The Fremont County Commissioners have approved a new set of by-laws for the Fremont County Lodging Tax Council. The action clarifies discrepancies caused when the Council and the Commissioners adopted separate sets of by-laws in 2001.
The by-laws provide for seven Fremont County residents who are in tourism related businesses to be appointed to serve three year terms on the Council. The by-laws also clarify that the Council can include up to nine non-voting ex-officio members. Language was added to bring the Council into compliance with Colorado 's open meetings statutes.
While proceeds from the two percent lodging tax are earmarked for tourism based marketing, language was added to the by-laws to allow up to five percent of the total funds collected annually to be distributed to tourism based events sponsored by various non-profit organizations. This would enable groups like the Blossom Festival Committee, The Fremont Center for the Arts' Art on the Arkansas, and other community based events to apply for promotional grant funding from the Council.
The Lodging Tax Council recently completed publication of the 2005 Royal Gorge Region Tourism Brochure and is investing considerable money and effort into an exciting new tourism website.
