HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 supplemental JC Lodging Tax Application Packet
1 of 5
2021 Supplemental Request for Proposal Packet –
Lodging Tax/Tourism Promotion
This packet is for the 2021 SUPPLEMENTAL TOURISM PROMOTION SERVICE PROPOSALS
to be funded by the Jefferson County Lodging Tax. Under Jefferson County guidelines, you
must be a NON-PROFIT or GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY to be eligible to be funded by the
Jefferson County Lodging Tax.
The Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will only consider complete and signed proposals that
include all of the requested information and documents, and that are submitted by the proposal deadline:
July 30, 2021 by 4:30 pm. Digital Delivery only for Proposals to AFMcKnight@co.jefferson.wa.us
2021 Supplemental Proposal Instructions -
The Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is accepting proposals from government agencies and
non-profit organizations for tourism-promotion to be provided during calendar year 2021 and paid for from
the County’s lodging tax fund. The Committee will make recommendations to the Jefferson County
Commissioners within one week following the proposal deadline. All decisions for use of the lodging tax will be
made by the Jefferson County Commissioners.
■ Proposals from government agencies or non-profit organizations are to be for tourism promotion
during calendar year 2021. Please refer to the Proposal Evaluation Criteria on Page 3 of this packet for
a list of eligible tourism promotion purposes for this funding round.
■ At the time of implementation, tourism related activities within proposals must comply with federal,
state, and county laws and requirements, including county Public Health direction.
NOTE: Jefferson County may not use public funds in any way that can be construed as a gift to an
individual or organization.
■ Proposals must completely address the questions, and all requested supplemental information must
be provided. Incomplete proposals will not be considered by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee .
■ To be considered, a fully completed and signed digital application (digital signatures acceptable)
must be received at AFMcKnight@co.jefferson.wa.us by the deadline listed above.
■ The preferred format for a digital application is a single PDF file attached to an email. If necessary,
multiple files in either PDF or Microsoft Word may be attached to a single email as a complete digital
application.
■ The proposal and all documents filed with the County are public records, potentially eligible for
release.
Jefferson County is committed to the non-discriminatory treatment of
all persons in the employment and delivery of services and resources.
2 of 5
Proposal Process -
The Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee solicits service proposals at least once each year. The
proposal form is attached, posted on the County’s website, www.co.jefferson.wa.us and may also be
requested by calling the Jefferson County Commissioner’s Office at the Courthouse, (360) 385-9100.
A subcommittee of the LTAC Committee will review proposals on August 3, 2021. Applicants are asked to be
available to attend the meeting beginning at 1 p.m. The County will provide meeting information for all
complete applications. Each proposing agency will answer questions from the Committee regarding their
proposal. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of County
Commissioners regarding which proposals to fund, and at what funding levels within available revenues.
The review of the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee recommendations and final decision about how to use the
lodging tax monies is made by the County Commissioners. Each agency will be notified of the status its
proposal. Contracts are prepared by the County and sent to agencies.
Funding Available for remainder of 2021 and 2022 -
Despite, and because of, the constraints of the COVID pandemic on tourism and lodging stays this past year
lodging tax revenue has exceeded our expectations and we are in a position to do a smaller supplemental
grant round to support efforts to ensure robust tourism in the Fall and Winter . Organizations submitting
proposals should be aware that a total of $250,000 in lodging tax awards will be available for allocation to
eligible tourism promotion, activities through this RFP. With this allocation to a supplemental grant round we
anticipate about $600,000 being available for the 2022 grant round. We will send out an RFP for the 2022
grant round in September.
County Ordinance 02-0622-98 provides for distribution of Lodging Tax as follows:
• The lodging tax funds are to be used for targeted and/or regional promotion, the operation and
maintenance of organizations operating tourist related facilities and their costs for local promotional
activities.
• Not more than 25% for the development of tourism related facilities.
Definitions -
By state law, lodging tax funds may only be used for tourism promotion and the acquisition and/or operation,
including maintenance, of tourism-related facilities. The following definitions are copied verbatim from RCW
67.28.080. Note: State law changed in 2007 to include “operation” of tourism events in the definition of
“tourism promotion.”
"Tourism" means economic activity resulting from tourists, which may include sales of overnight lodging,
meals, tours, gifts, or souvenirs.
"Tourist" means a person who travels from a place of residence to a different town, city, county, state, or
country, for purposes of business, pleasure, recreation, education, arts, heritage, or culture.
"Tourism promotion" means activities, operations, and expenditures designed to increase tourism, including
but not limited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the purpose of
attracting and welcoming tourists; developing strategies to expand tourism; operating tourism
promotion agencies; and funding the marketing of special events and festivals designed to attract
tourists.
"Tourism-related facility" means real or tangible personal property with a usable life of three or more years, or
constructed with volunteer labor that is: (a)(i) Owned by a public entity; (ii) owned by a nonprofit
3 of 5
organization described under section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, as
amended; or (iii) owned by a nonprofit organization described under section 501(c)(6) of the federal
internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, a business organization, destination marketing
organization, main street organization, lodging association, or chamber of commerce and (b) used to
support tourism, performing arts, or to accommodate tourist activities.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria –
Jefferson County Policy Statement for Use of the Lodging Tax.
Jefferson County’s Lodging Tax Fund will be the primary source of county funding for activities, operations,
and expenditures designed to increase tourism. The County does not make any multi-year commitments with
Lodging Tax funds. However, service providers are not limited or prohibited from making repeat annual
requests of the same nature. The County intends to maintain a reserve in the Fund, and will assess on an
annual basis how much of the Fund to appropriate in a given year. The Jefferson County Commissioners have
created a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to conduct an annual process to solicit and recommend Lodging
Tax funded services for the County Commissioners consideration. Jefferson County will only consider
proposals for use of the Lodging Tax from public and non-profit agencies.
The Fund will ONLY be used for the following purposes:
1. The promotion of emerging or on-going tourism events, facilities, and activities by government or non-
profit agencies so as to attract and draw tourists to unincorporated Jefferson County from outside
Jefferson County.
2. Operation of a tourism promotion agency (such as a visitor and convention bureau);
3. The marketing of special events and festivals designed to attract tourists to unincorporated Jefferson
County from outside Jefferson County.
4. Capital and/or operating costs for tourism facilities owned by a public entity or a non -profit
organization as defined in State law RCW 67.28.080.1(7) – Tourism Related Facility.
5. Administrative costs to support tourism events, facilities and activities.
Other Criteria -
HIGH PRIORITY will be given to tourism activities that:
■ Promote Jefferson County and/or events, activities, and places in the County to potential tourists from
outside Jefferson County.
■ Have demonstrated potential or high potential from the Committee’s perspective to result in overnight
stays by tourists in lodging establishments within the unincorporated areas Jefferson County.
■ Have demonstrated potential or high potential from the Committee’s perspective to res ult in
documented economic benefit to Jefferson County.
■ Have a demonstrated history of success in Jefferson County, or are proposed by a group with a
demonstrated history or high potential of success with similar activities.
■ Minimize duplication of services where appropriate and encourage cooperative marketing and/or
includes an element of cooperation or partnership.
■ Provide, maintain, operate, or enhance County-owned tourism facilities or infrastructure.
4 of 5
Lodging Tax Review Committee Considerations -
In developing its recommendations, the Committee considers:
■ The estimated amount of lodging tax receipts for the coming year provided by the County
Administrator’s Office.
■ Operational adaptations or pivots that ensure future organizational success of tourism related
activities and promotion, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
■ Thoroughness and completeness of the proposal.
■ The relationship of proposed services to the areas of high priority identified by the Committee.
■ Percent of the proposal request to the event/facility promotions budget and overall revenues.
■ Percent of increase over prior year Jefferson County Lodging Tax funded proposal if any.
■ Projected economic impact within the unincorporated Jefferson County, in particular projected
overnight stays to be generated in lodging establishments in the unincorporated areas of Jefferson
County.
■ Requirements in State law for use of the tax, and the definitions in State RCW 67.28.080 for “tourism,”
“tourist,” “tourism promotion,” and “tourism-related facility.”
■ The applicant’s history of promotion success, reporting history and financial stability.
■ Committee member general knowledge of the community and tourism-related activities.
NOT CONSIDERED are requests for:
■ Services provided beyond calendar year March 31, 2022.
■ Proposals from for-profit businesses (however, a government or nonprofit agency contracting with the
County may itself contract with for-profit businesses as third-party vendors).
■ Promotional activities that reach a target audience solely located within Jefferson County.
NOTE:
1. On February 2, 2006, the State of Washington Attorney General’s Office issued Opinion #AGO 2006 #4,
which clarifies that a municipality may NOT provide advance payment to private organizations for
tourism promotion. Payment must occur after the services have been performed and documentation
in keeping with the contract is submitted to the County.
2. The County may not pay for donated or volunteer services or pay more than the actual cost incurred by
the contracting agency to provide the service.
5. Background Information –
Jefferson County’s Lodging Tax.
The Lodging Tax is an excise (sales) tax authorized by State law in RCW 67.28, Public Stadium, Convention, Arts
and Tourism Facilities.
In 1998, the State Legislature amended Chapter 67.28 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to allow local
governments to assess an additional 2% tax on lodging for tourism promotion and/or tourism-related facilities
(sometimes referred to as “the new 2%”). In April 1999, the County Commission, by Ordinance, increased the
County's Lodging Tax from a 2% to a 4% tax as allo wed by RCW 67.28.
5 of 5
Jefferson County’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
Per RCW 67.28.1817, the State requires that local governments collecting the Lodging Tax establish a Lodging
Tax Advisory Committee consisting of at least five (5) members:
The Chair – a member of the County Commission or their designee
2 members – representing the lodging industry
2 members – representing activities authorized to be funded by said tax
The Committee’s role is advisory in nature, with the Committee’s purpose being to advise the County
Commissioners. The Committee must select the candidates from amongst the applicants applying for use of
revenues and provide a list of such candidates and recommended amounts of funding to the County
Commissioners for final determination.
In 1998, the Jefferson County Commissioners created such a Committee, and asked the Committee to
establish an annual process to solicit and review proposals for tourism services eligible for lodging tax funding.
Committee members are appointed by the County Commissioners as part of the County’s regular advisory
committee appointment process.
For additional information, contact :
Mark McCauley, Interim County Administrator
Jefferson County Courthouse
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Ph: 360-385-9100; Fax: 360-385-9382
e-mail: mmcauley@co.jefferson.wa.us
- END -