HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter re LTAC Appointments - 020518 p� CoNss Board of County Commissioners
z9,.( -7 oo 0t� 1820 Jefferson Street
774, IA�o w A %n PO Box 1220
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Port Townsend, WA 98368
�9 r O� Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
sNING'C
February 5,2025
TO: Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
RE: LTAC Appointments
As you may know, the BoCC voted unanimously on December 23`d to open all seats on the LTAC for new or
existing applicants. We're writing to you today to encourage and welcome applications from all existing LTAC
members who want to engage in an open dialogue about how best to use LTAC funding for the benefit of all
Jefferson County residents, visitors, and tourism-related businesses. We hope that you will also work within
your strong local networks to encourage a broad range of tourism-related businesses to apply from all
geographic areas within Jefferson County,ensuring that we maintain diverse representation on the LTAC across
the county and across all areas of our tourism economy.
As part of the shared effort to promote tourism in Jefferson County, the Jefferson County Board of County
Commissioners (BoCC) intends to refocus the revenue Jefferson County receives for tourism promotion that is
distributed through the Local Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). In accordance with RCW 67.28.180, which
authorizes the BoCC "to levy and collect a special excise tax of not to exceed two percent on the sale of or
charge made for the furnishing of lodging that is subject to tax under chapter 82.08 RCW", the Lodging Tax
Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the BoCC for distribution of this special excise tax revenue
through a request for proposal process. The BoCC accepts, rejects or modifies the LTAC recommendations.
Alignment of county legislative and tourism-related priorities for use of this special excise tax revenue is
ensured through the BoCC's appointment of LTAC members under RCW 67.28.1817(1).
With public input, and LTAC involvement, the BoCC will work to develop a set of LTAC bylaws consistent
with RCW 67.28.1817(1) that incorporate county priorities, the priorities of county residents and tourism-
related businesses, an annual review process, and metrics for evaluating lodging tax investments. Once those
bylaws are finalized, the BoCC will advertise the LTAC positions — which we anticipate doing in the first
quarter of 2025.
We understand and acknowledge that this process has caused some disruption within our tourism community,
and we are sincerely hopeful that we can use these changes to build an even more robust network of Jefferson
County tourism professionals, with the solidarity and support that we will need to move forward together to
create the strongest economy possible. We thank you for the deep commitment you have shown to our
community and we look forward to building a new LTAC together.
Thank you for your service,
JEFFERSON COUN OARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER'
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,4„,1 ,
Hea udley-Nollette, etch Eisenhour, Gre Brotherto,
District 1 District 2 District 3
Phone (360) 385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
01 cOMii 1 Board of County Commissioners
44' o G 1820 Jefferson Street
•trCtril
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
O Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
SNING't
February 3, 2025
TO: Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
RE: LTAC Iere1sp ATtrtywc614..ack
As you may know, the BoCC voted unanimously on December 23`d to open all seats on the LTAC for
new or existing applicants. We're writing to you today to encourage and welcome applications from
all existing LTAC members who want to engage in an open dialogue about how best to use LTAC
funding for the benefit of all Jefferson County residents, visitors, and tourism-related businesses. We
hope that you will also work within your strong local networks to encourage a broad range of tourism-
related businesses to apply from all geographic areas within Jefferson County, ensuring that we
maintain diverse representation on the LTAC across the county and across all areas of our tourism
economy.
As part of the shared effort to promote tourism in Jefferson County,the Jefferson County Board of
County Commissioners (BoCC) intends to refocus the revenue Jefferson County receives for tourism
promotion that is distributed through the Local Tax Advisory Committee(LTAC). In accordance with
RCW 67.28.180,which authorizes the BoCC "to levy and collect a special excise tax of not to exceed
two percent on the sale of or charge made for the furnishing of lodging that is subject to tax under
chapter 82.08 RCW", the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the BoCC for
distribution of this special excise tax revenue through a request for proposal process. The BoCC
accepts, rejects or modifies the LTAC recommendations. Alignment of county legislative and tourism-
related priorities for use of this special excise tax revenue is ensured through the BoCC's appointment
of LTAC members under RCW 67.28.1817(1).
LTAC wive I ve«ac€-,
With public input,the BoCC will work to develop a set of LTAC bylaws consistent with RCW
67.28.1817(1)that incorporate county priorities, the priorities of county residents and tourism-related
businesses, an annual review process, and metrics for evaluating lodging tax investments. Once those
bylaws are finalized,the BoCC will advertise the LTAC positions—which we anticipate doing in the
first quarter of 2025.
We understand and acknowledge that this process has caused some disruption within our tourism
community, and we are sincerely hopeful that we can use these changes to build an even more robust
network of Jefferson County tourism professionals, with the solidarity and support that we will need to
move forward together to create the strongest economy possible. We thank you for the deep
commitment you have shown to our community and we look forward to building a new LTAC
together.
Thank you for your service,
Heather Dudley-Nollette,Dist. 1 Heidi Eisenhour, Dist.2-Chair Greg Brotherton,Dist. 3
Phone (360)385-9100 jeftbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Heather Dudley-Nollette,Commissioner,District 1
DATE: February 3,2025
SUBJECT: Letter to Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
During the January 27th meeting of the Board of County Commissioners a proposed letter to the Lodging
Tax Advisory Committee was reviewed by the Board. A majority of the Board felt the letter needed to be
recrafted to improve its tone and intent.
ANALYSIS:
Attached is the recrafted letter for the Board's consideration.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Board review the draft letter and determine whether to approve it as is or to further modify it to
meet the Board's objectives.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
REVIEWED BY:
07/ c
Mark McCauley unty Administrator 6Date