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Lodging Tax for Tourism-Related Operations
“Internal Application Only”
Submission Deadline: September 1
Kittitas County Commissioners
205 W 5th Avenue, Suite 108, Ellensburg, WA 98926
509-962-7508
Kittitas County imposes a lodging tax assessed on the sale or charge made for furnishings of lodging according to RCW 67.28.180 and RCW 67.28.181. In accordance with the tax and Washington
State law, a Lodging Tax Advisory Committee has also been established. The committee’s purpose is to advise and recommend to the Board of County Commissioners how excise taxes on lodging
should be allocated to support tourism which in turn generates revenue.
Uses According to Law:
RCW 67.28.1816 states the following:
Lodging tax revenues under this chapter may be used, directly by any municipality or indirectly through a convention and visitor bureau or destination marketing organization for supporting
the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated by a municipality.
Definitions included in state law which should be considered in any application requesting funding include:
Tourism means economic activity resulting from tourists, which may include sales of overnight lodging, meals, tours, gifts, or souvenirs.
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 marketing or the operation of special
events and festivals designated 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 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 organizations, main street organization, lodging association,
or chamber of commerce; and (b) used to support tourism, performing arts, or to accommodate tourist activities.
Review Process:
Kittitas County’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) will review all Kittitas County completed applications. Qualifying applicants will be provided the opportunity to present their
projects to the LTAC and answer questions.The LTAC will submit their recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) whohave final approval authority for the list of recommendations.
Prior to making a final decision, the BOCC will publicly deliberate on the recommendations received from the LTAC. Applicants may also be requested to present their projects to the
BOCC and answer questions.
Please returnONE COPY of the entire original application and answers to narrative questions to:Kittitas County CommissionersAttn: Internal Lodging Tax Grant Application205 West 5th,
Suite 108, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Applications must be received no later than 5:00 PM, September 1st, of each year (if September 1st falls on a weekend, the application will be due on the Monday immediately following)
and must be postmarkedaccordingly.
Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered. Applications may not be changed or amended by the applicant after the deadline for submission
Schedule:
Application deadlineSeptember 1
Oral presentations of proposals to LTAC no later than October 1
LTAC submits to BOCCno later than October 20
BOCC Deliberation and Decisionno later than November7
Applicant Award Notification November 10
Funds availabilityJanuary 1
Project Management:
The Board of County Commissioners will approve the application based upon the recommendation of the LTAC. The Board will approve by Resolution the amount authorized.
All funds awarded under this program will be available in the form of a direct charge to the Lodging tax budget for the Fiscal year, January through December.
All funds awarded for supporting the operations of county-owned tourism-related facilities will be available for reimbursementuntil January 15 of the next year. If January 15, falls
on a weekend the requests must be submitted on the Monday immediately following. Any unexpended funds will be returned to the Lodging Tax accountand made available for re-appropriation.
All requests for reimbursement shall be made to the Kittitas County Auditor’s office at the following address:Kittitas County AuditorAttn: Lodging Tax Grant Funds Reimbursement205 W
5th, Suite 105Ellensburg, WA 98926
For specific information and requirements regarding the reimbursement process, please contact the Auditor’s office at 509-962-7502.
Applicant Categories and Eligibility:
Grants from lodging tax funds are provided for Internal Kittitas County Operations.
Applicant Information – Operations
Application for Fiscal Year________________________________
Enter date: i.e. Jan 1
Name of Department: _______________________________
Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________________
Contact Person and Title:________________________________
Phone:________________________________
Email:________________________________
Project Title:________________________________
Project Location:________________________________
Funding Request:________________________________
Application Requirements
____1. The project qualifies for lodging tax funds is supporting the operations of tourism-related facilities owned or operated byKittitas County.
____2. A completed project budget is included in the application (if applicable).
Applicant Certification: Please sign below in agreement with statement of certification.
Certification is hereby given that the information provided is accurate and the applicable attachments are complete and included as part of the application package.
I further certify that the application thresholds are met at the time of application.
_________________________________________________________________
Signature of Official RepresentativeTitleDate
Tourism-Related Facility Operational Funding Narrative
(Municipality Applications Only)
For the Year___________________
1. Operational Spending: Please explain your request for operational funding and how it is directly related to supporting the operations of a tourism-related facility owned or operated
by a municipality or public facilities district.
2. Sustainability Strategy: Please describe your strategy for long-term operational sustainability. Include any specific progress toward this goal.
3. Applicant Certification: Please sign below in agreement with statement of certification.
Certification is hereby given that the information provided is accurate and the applicable attachments are complete and included as part of the application package.
I further certify that the application thresholds are met at the time of application.
_________________________________________________________________
Signature of Official RepresentativeTitleDate