WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVES FUNDS FOR VISITORS BUREAU AND HOTEL ASSOCIATION
The Washington County Commissioners Court met today (Tuesday) and approved the allocation for the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Brenham Hotel Association.
Representatives from both organizations asked the commissioners to approve the allocation of funds from the Washington County Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund to the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau and to the Brenham Hotel Association.
The Visitors Bureau plans to use the money for promotional and advertising purposes, while the hotel association needs it to help with billboard advertising. Commissioners approved the allocation of funds saying that, with business being slow, this is not the time to cut advertising. They went on to say that advertising ultimately boosts revenue for tourism and hotel industry in Washington County.
The total sum of money the organizations asked to be allocated was $68,000. However, $8,950 is already set aside for them which brings the differential to approximately $60,000. Commissioners were hesitant to take money from the reserve, citing that they hope to keep the reserve fund at least $100,000. However, commissioners expect the $138,000 currently in the reserve to increase to $158,000 by the end of September.
The commissioners then approved the Washington County Appraisal District’s 2016-2017 budget, which called for the addition of a new appraiser. The Washington County Appraisal District was also allowed to retain its unused funds from the 2014-2015 budget year. Approximately $8,000 of the funds will be used to replace 23 computers. The Appraisal District will use $12,774 to have a pictometry flight. The state mandated pictomitry flight must happen every three years, and acts as an important a resource for police, road and bridge, environmental agencies, and emergency response teams in addition to the appraisers.
The Commissioners Court also approved the use of the grant money from the County Hog Out Management Program. The money received from the state will be used to reward feral hog catchers at the end of the 8 month program period. The top participants for most hogs caught will receive cash rewards of:
1st place- $1,250
2nd place- $1,000
3rd place- $750
4th place- $250
The commissioners said that this reward program has been proven in other counties as a way to get people involved in CHOMP. More information for residents on the program will be released by the court in September.