County approves first uses of HOT funds

The Young County Commissioners approved the first use of Hotel Occupancy Taxes entering into a marketing agreement with the Graham Chamber of Commerce and approving repairs of a small cannon at Fort Belknap.

The Young County commissioners passed a resolution in December 2017 establishing a Hotel Occupancy Tax of 5 percent in all incorporated areas to continue indefinitely after Jan. 1, 2018 unless voted down by a majority of the Commissioners Court.

The goal of the tax is to provide funds for additional renovations, support and promotion of Fort Belknap. The money is transferred into the general account for the county, but on a separate line in the budget which allows them to see how much revenue is generated from the tax. Under state law, a county which has a population of 30,000 or less and borders Possum Kingdom Lake can have their commissioners’ court impose an occupancy tax county wide, but the tax cannot apply to a hotel in a municipality which imposes its own occupancy tax. 

Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Sipes said an advisory committee consisting of himself, County Judge John Bullock, Jim Hammond, Krisa De La Cruz, Anne Street Skipper, Syndal McClatchy and Gina Maxwell was formed. The committee came up with a plan to present for appropriating the funds and decided on $10,000 going towards marketing and $40,000 towards repairs and restoration for Fort Belknap.

For the rest of the story see the Wednesday, Feb. 27 edition of The Graham Leader.