Commissioners Vote To Withhold Hotel Tax Revenue

Washington County Commissioners acted as planned and voted to withhold hotel tax revenues from the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency. The vote was 2-1 with Commissioner Larry Maggi dissenting. Prior to the vote, Maggi asked that the measure be tabled in order to consider a letter received by commissioners from the WCTPA in the last 24 hours. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman expressed that he was frustrated by not getting the information that he has been asking for, above and beyond a standard accounting audit. He forcefully denied the request and called for a vote. Sherman says that the commissioners are able to withhold the funds based on county code. WCTPA president Jeff Kotula says that they have provided their audit and any information above that will not be recognized as a standard accounting audit and any withholding of funds by the commissioners and by the county treasurer would be illegal based on county code. In a written statement from the WCTPA that included a letter from Sherman to the WCTPA Sherman states that he wants the county to have a more active role in tourism spending and the appointment of decision makers on how hotel tax money is spent. According to Commissioner Larry Maggi, that goes against the reasoning that the County appointed the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and the WCTPA to conduct tourism activities on behalf of the County. It is unknown if any further communication between the parties will take place before funds are withheld.