Lodging tax board underwrites less than $10,000 in proposals

MEEKER | In accordance with state law, Rio Blanco County lodging taxes amounting to 1.9 percent of the purchase price for units rented for less than 30 consecutive days are to be collected by hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfast inns, condos, campsites, timeshares, auto-camps and trailer parks. This tax revenue is to be spent, after a small administrative cost deducted by the State Department of Revenue, to advertise and market tourism with the exception that capital expenditures can be made for tourist information centers.
LODGING TAX REVENUES SPLIT BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN RBC
In RBC, these lodging tax revenues are split between the western and eastern ends of the county, and their further disbursement is governed by lodging tax “panels” of at least three persons appointed by the RBC Board of County Commissioners. The Eastern (Meeker) Lodging Tax Panel is composed of Karl Maser, Melinda Parker and Dan Schwartz. The Western (Rangely) Lodging Tax Panel is composed of Terry Drake, Henry Hames and John Payne. These members are to be selected from the tourism industry and are encouraged to use established and proven marketing entities in their jurisdictions formed for the purposes of advertising and marketing tourism.
THREE ENTITIES SEEK FUNDING
The Meeker panel met, reportedly for the only time in 2018, on Nov. 20. The panel heard ideas from three entities on how these taxes might be spent to enhance tourism. The eastern RBC lodging tax tourism fund had a balance of $107,000 at the time of the meeting. According to County Tax Administrator Debbie Morlan, the panel will receive nearly another $14,000. The payments, originating with the state, vary considerably, are collected quarterly, and are disbursed monthly.
MEEKER CHAMBER PROPOSALS
Meeker Chamber of Commerce Director Stephanie Kobald presented several ideas for funding. Her suggestions included the following three which the panel has since agreed to fund:
1. $1,125 for matching part of a Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) Small Competitive Marketing Grant to produce a “sponsored content article” to be written by CTO editors that will promote Meeker. The production is to include a 15 image slideshow and four formatted Meeker ads to be placed on the Colorado.com website with content links to the Meeker Chamber website.
2. $1,000 for the design of a Meeker Event Planning Guide. Kobald indicated the chamber believes Meeker can be promoted as a northwest Colorado hub for conferences, meetings and other gatherings. This guide, she said, can be a critical resource for event planners with respect to lodging, meeting locales, food and other business services—all with the goal of better sustaining businesses throughout the year.
3. $800 to support production of 1,200 Meeker Town “Pocket” Maps which will fit in a pocket and have business names, contact and location information for places to stay, dine, shop and play. The Chamber proposes producing their own maps, as opposed to rather expensive options through commercial outfits.
The Lodging Tax Panel reportedly said “no” to funding $2,400 toward the chamber’s office and visitor center lease expense and “no” to $500 for a new door for the chamber office. Thus, the panel approved $2,925 for chamber projects out of the more than $120,000 in their bank account. Requests from the HT for official funding decisions and rationale from Schwartz, the panel’s chair, have gone unanswered.
MEEKER CLASSIC
Maym Cunningham, Director of the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials, requested $700 for one-half the projected cost of repairing and upgrading their tram. The tram is used to transport trial spectators from the parking lot area to the bleachers.
“The tram is often the first impression folks get of Meeker when they arrive to see the Meeker Classic—so many are appreciative of the ride and our friendly volunteers that man the tram. The upgraded tram will have signage that features Meeker and the Meeker Classic. Brochures from the chamber and local events will be available on the tram as well. We plan to offer use of the tram to other events in town that would like to provide this service—the R100 Archery Shoot and events at the fairgrounds, for example,” Cunningham said. She has since confirmed that the panel agreed to fund the $700 request.
SUMMER RODEO SERIES
The panel also discussed the Meeker Summer Rodeo series with organizer, and Meeker mayor, Regas Halandras. Halandras would like to have the panel underwrite the rodeo at $1,000 per show, amounting to $12,000 for the 12 summer performances. His vision is that with a funded rodeo that would then be “free” to attendees and town visitors, many more folks could be attracted to Meeker. The panel, to date, has reportedly offered half of that amount. Halandras says he’s not yet certain of what the summer series rodeo plans will be for 2019.
PROJECTS FUNDED MAKE SMALL DENT IN ACCOUNT
In summary, this leaves—assuming the rodeo series accepts the $6,000 offer—approximately $111,075 in the lodging tax account. According to Morlan, the panel had revenues of approximately $35,000 this year. Thus, more than two-thirds of their remaining bank account is composed of funds held over from previous years.
Regarding the bank account, panel member Parker suggested they were waiting for one great idea. Discussion ensued as to how to measure the success of promotion efforts.
In contrast to the east end, according to Morlan, the western end lodging tax revenues in 2018 amount to just over $16,000. The HT plans to report on their efforts at tourism promotion in the near future.