Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission members heard that more than $164,000 was being held by the Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc., an amount accumulated over the last three years.

The restructured commission met Tuesday for the second time this year with members Jan Carter, John Elliott, Fay Medlock, Jon Sroufe, Joy McCarthy-Sessing and Deb Wiggins present. Wiggins is the commission's president.

During the meeting, the commission's contract with the CVB and the CVB's budget were discussed at length.

The commission is charged with promoting and encouraging conventions, visitors and tourism within the county. Expenditures of the 5 percent hotel room tax (of the 5 percent room tax, the hotels keep 1 percent for administration) may include but are not limited to costs for advertising, promotional activities, trade shows, special events and recreation.

The CVB's $165,000 cash reserve came as a surprise to the commissioners. Many had heard the bureau would not consider grant requests by not-for-profit groups due to a lack of funding.

Commissioner Sroufe said one of the biggest questions he has been asked is why no money was available to local nonprofit groups who had requested money.

Elliott noted that bureau financial reports for the past three years show a cash reserve of $121,000 in 2001, $134,965 in 2002 and $164,200 in 2003.

He believes CVB Inc. should operate on a zero-based retention budget and "reserve" money would have been better spent to meet the mission of increasing tourism rather than increasing reserves. He questioned where the money came from.

The CVB awarded a total of $6,247 to 10 recipients in 2002. Grants are awarded to provide assistance to qualified not-for-profit organizations for promotional assistance toward projects to draw visitors from outside Kosciusko County.

With new organization, the commission, not the bureau, will consider grant applicaitons.

Fay Medlock noted the CVB Inc. had a building to maintain and had to have money in reserve for maintenance.

Elliott said maintenance was built into the budget in addition to the reserve funds.

The commissioners approved a request to CVB Inc. to provide the cost of services, including a breakdown between program and administrative expenses, outstanding financial commitments, current cash balances, 2002 and 2003 audit information as well as a complete list of all denied grant requests for 2003.

In other business, the commission:

• Heard commission records from 1999 to the present have been received and stored at the courthouse. The remainder are to be received by Feb. 9.

• Heard Wiggins had extended an invitation to the recently formed Kosciusko County Lodging Association to share ideas with the commission regarding disbursement of room tax dollars.

• Heard a possible budget of $230,000 for projects and programs and $98,000 for administration of projects and programs ($328,000 total) could be submitted to replace the 2004 budget tabled by the county council.

Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission members are: Jan Carter, John Elliott, Fay Medlock, Jon Sroufe, Joy McCarthy-Sessing and Deb Wiggins. Nancy Gast was absent. [[In-content Ad]]