Commissioners Continue Dispute With WCTPA

During their agenda setting meeting, Washington County Commissioners added an item that, if approved, will direct the County Treasurer to withhold county hotel tax revenues and deposit them into a special holding account instead of directing those funds to the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency as mandated by law. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman says that they sent a letter to Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency President Jeff Kotula, asking them to provide information, that Kotula says, is beyond the limits of a financial audit. Commissioners are looking for information on transaction journals, consulting agreements and leases, employment agreements between third parties and the agency or a summary of employee salaries and benefits and other items. Kotula says that they have provided a clean audit again this year. Any tax information is public knowledge and available as public record. The county lost several legal decisions in the Office of Open Records, and Common Pleas Court in search of that information. An appeal to Commonwealth Court is pending. The county says that they are now seeking the information as provided for under county code. Sherman says that commissioners are trying to be good stewards of taxpayer money. Kotula says that Sherman is well aware of how the money is spent as he had been seated on the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce that is a partner with the WCTPA and has never had an issue with any funds being spent. Commissioners will vote on the measure on Thursday, October 1 at 10:00 am.


