County Council Hears Tourism Impact ReportJill Boggs, executive director for the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau, gave a report on the economic impact of tourism at the County Council meeting Thursday night.
She told the council the travel and tourism industry contributed $184.5 million to the county’s economy in 2017, up from $162.2 million in 2015.
Boggs said one-third of visitor spending was in the food and beverage sector, followed by attractions (23 percent), lodging (17 percent), shopping (16 percent), transportation (8 percent) and souvenirs?(3 percent).
Boggs said almost 2,100 jobs were created by the tourism industry, providing $36.8 million in wages. Visitors from 15 different states were identified in the 2017 research, and the tourism industry generated $44.1 million in tax revenues. Locals contributed $18.7 million to the industry, creating 236 jobs.
In other matters, County Auditor Michelle Puckett asked the council to approve a sliding pay scale for the recently hired GIS Coordinator. The person hired has both geographic information system and auditing experience, and Puckett asked the council for permission to take the positions’s salary from a first-year level to a third-year level by the end of the 180-day probationary period. The council approved the request.
Sue Shelhart was named the auditor’s office Employee of the Month. She’s recently completed 10 years working in that office.
In a brief report, County Administrator Marsha McSherry gave an update and shared photos of the county highway building project.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a pair of additional appropriations for the county highway department for gas and motor oil ($60,000) and garage and other motor supplies ($35,000). the department added $517.46 from an insurance reimbursement.
• Placed $96,052 from a safe schools grant to the department of emergency management’s planning and training budget.
• Authorized a pay raise for an employee in the recorder’s office.
• Supported a pair of grant requests from the sheriff’s department for a DUI patrol ($3,500) and Operation Pullover ($21,400).
• Passed a request from Dan Hampton, county prosecutor, to transfer $5,000 from one payroll account to another.
The next county council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in the old courthouse.
