Hotel-Motel Tax Board Minutes 2019 April 26

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ST. JOSEPH COUNTY BOARD OF MANAGERS FOR HOTEL-MOTEL TAX FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2019 8:30 A.M. CENTURY CENTER SUITES 10-11 Members Present Members Absent Others John Anthony Victor Ravago Aaron Perri Greg Downes Thomas Walz Rob DeCleene & Staff – VSB/CVB Joseph Kurth Leanna Belew & Staff – Century Center Mark McDonnell Jeff Jarnecke, VPA Director of Venues Jenny McNeil Marika Anderson – Morris PAC Dan Parker Aladean DeRose Carmen Piasecki Gary West Ron Zeltwanger The meeting was called to order by President Anthony at 8:30 a.m. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken with the following members absent: Victor Ravago and Thomas Walz. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Anthony entertained a motion to approve the minutes of January 25, 2019. McDonnell moved to accept; seconded by Downes, the motion carried. TREASURER’S REPORT Ron Zeltwanger reported on the period ending March 31, 2019: the beginning balance from January 1, 2019, was $6,124,259 in reserved which was a bit inflated because of the almost $930,000 which was carried over from the 2018 Budget. 2019 Q1 Receipts were $1,061,766 which is up 14.8% from 2018 Q1 with Disbursements of $1,722,128 resulting in a remaining balance of $5,463,897. Receipts for the last three quarters of the fiscal year show growth. Q1 Receipts from the last several years have averaged a 7.5% increase. PRESIDENT’S REPORT Anthony reported that the Indiana legislature earlier this week passed the State budget which takes 1% from the 6% of Hotel-Motel Tax and bypassed the Hotel-Motel Tax Board to allocate the funds 60% to a new Mishawaka sports complex and 40% to the Potawatomi Zoo. This was first introduced in February. Anthony distributed a letter on behalf of the Hotel-Motel Tax Board to our nine area representatives in the State Legislature and outlined how funds have been spent in the past, pro- grams and priorities for tourism in the area which generate room nights that increase Hotel-Motel Tax funds. The letter highlighted the 56.5% increase in tax revenues over the past seven years from the investments that have been made which show that the investments are driving increased tourism and visitor spending. The letter noted that, perhaps, the Hotel-Motel Tax Board did not communicate with the representatives about the tourism initiatives and where the funding is being planned. An invitation was extended to the nine representatives for conversation; however, no one responded back. Anthony is not aware of any further communication by legislators with the Hotel- Motel Tax Board, local tourism officials or hotels before the law was passed. Rob DeCleene and Visit South Bend Mishawaka were asked to formalize a master plan for tourism for our community and to show the funding priorities. The master plan is being developed and will eventually be socialized so that it is documented.