Nine groups receive guest tax funds

A group of local events and organizations are scheduled to receive funds from the Transient Guest Tax committee to bolster local tourism.

It was announced during the Fort Scott City Commission meeting March 10 which events and organizations would be receiving funds through the Transient Guest Tax allocations. This year, $92,000 was awarded to nine different area events and organizations, including the Fort Scott Visitors Center, Fort Scott National Historic Site, Good Ol' Days, the Fort Scott Swim Team, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1165, and others.

The swim team will be hosting a multi-day swim meet this summer, which is a great use of the funding, according to Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Director Cynthia McFarlin. The VFW Post No. 1165 will use their funding to host a district convention next month.

McFarlin said the convention is expected to bring at least 150 people to the area.

"I cannot tell you how many phone calls I've already gotten from people wanting names of hotels," she said.

During the city commission meeting, one commissioner asked McFarlin why the swim team was receiving funding from the Transient Guest Tax fund. After McFarlin explained the benefits of the event planned, the commission accepted the allocations.

"These are things that we as local residents don't think about," McFarlin said.

The Transient Guest Tax fund saw a dramatic increase of $35,000 from the previous year. McFarlin described the increase as a "one-time tax event" which involved a contribution from a local hotel that made a one-time payment to the fund. The payment was made to compensate for a lack of prior contribution for an undisclosed reason.

"It was a nice little chunk of money that came that we weren't expecting and will not come again," McFarlin said.

McFarlin said the hotel's payment could not have come at a better time. She added the extra amount will help push through the current economic conditions and hopefully increase visitor numbers.

"What's nice about it coming now is; we are looking at a year where everybody is a little bit nervous with the economy the way it is," McFarlin said. "That little bit of extra money is really timely because it allows us to be aggressive."

Transient Guest Tax Committee Chairwoman Judy Renard said the committee evaluates the worthiness of each application submitted. She added the committee also considers whether the event is new and different. According to McFarlin, the committee receives 5-10 applications per year, adding this year the committee has placed special interest in informing the community about the purpose for the funding.

"I think we did a pretty good job this year ... people really knew about it they were real educated about it," McFarlin said.

According to McFarlin, the Transient Guest Tax, which is also referred to as a "Bed Tax," is collected from a five percent tax on room rates at local hotels and bed and breakfasts. She added the money from the tax is then used to promote organizations and events which encourage overnight stays in the community. The tax is also the primary funding for the operation of the Fort Scott Visitor Center, McFarlin said.

Funding from the tax was allocated as follows:

* Fort Scott Community College Rodeo Program -- $1,000 for out-of-town advertising

* Fort Scott National Historic Site/Good Ol' Days -- $5,120

* Good Ol' Days -- $3,000 for out-of-town advertising

* VFW Post No. 1165 -- $100

* Fort Scott Swim Team -- $1,000 for upcoming swim meet

* Gordon Parks Celebration of Culture and Diversity -- $2,000

* Stray Kat Kustoms/Visitor Center -- $1,500

* Fort Scott Visitor Center -- $77,300 for operating costs and updating printed media with $5,000 for marketing with the Fort Scott National Historic Site

* Kansas Rocks -- $1,000 for out-of-town advertising