Tourism-Related Operations-Internal

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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