Electric City to spend more on tourism

More of money collected to boost tourism and related jobs will be allowed to to do so following a move by councils in Electric City and Coulee Dam last week.

Electric City annually has put half its hotel/motel tax revenue into a reserve fund. The council voted to cut that to 25 percent, making more available for promoting the area.

The money is generated by local motels and campgrounds is supposed to be targeted to promote the area so tourism as a local industry can grow.

Still left in Electric City’s coffers is some $300,000 of the funds collected from tourists.

The council’s hotel/motel committee, made up of John Nordine and Marie Chuinard, had come up with a list of targets for spending the money for 2015, totaling $35,479.58. That’s half of funds anticipated for collection in 2014.

When asked about the remainder of the money, Nordine said the chamber of commerce, which markets the area for tourism, would like “all of it.”

Councilmember Lonna Bussert responded, “Don’t be smart, John.”

It appeared that the two might challenge each other, but the motion — to cut the amount reserved each year to a quarter of what comes in — quickly passed, 3-2, with Nordine and Chuinard voting no.

Now, by action of the council, another $17,740 will be available for distribution.

The hotel/motel council committee will now need to go back to the drawing board and decide where that amount will go.

The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest beneficiary of the funds so far, with $24,479.58. They are followed by the Ridge Riders, who will get $5,500; Coulee Area Parks & Recreation District, $5,000 and $500 to the Coulee Pioneer Museum.

Nordine and Chuinard were asked if they had a project in mind for the $300,000 still in reserve. They said no, but they had never been asked to consider one.

Efforts to get Electric City, Grand Coulee and Coulee Dam to pool their hotel/motel funds and let a committee disperse it for advertising have not yet born fruit.