By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
Geary County Commissioner Trish Giordano wants a one percent increase in the transient guest tax. "I think it would be beneficial for our community." The current TGT rate is six percent, which is below the 7.5% rate in Manahttan and nearly eight percent in Abilene.
Giordano and other members of the governing body along with the public weighed in on the issue during a discussion Monday evening at the County Office Building. Transient guest tax is paid by the people who use lodging facilities. Much of the revenue supports Convention and Visitors Bureau operations but one percent is targeted for any possible future sports complex project.
No final action was taken but Giordano confirmed that the topic will be brought back up during the commission meeting on June 30.
Giordano started the conversation by suggesting using the sports complex funds be used to help impact existing sports facilities such as the 4-H softball field and the rodeo arena. "We need to look at local stuff because a huge sports complex is not coming any time soon." The amount of money currently in the sports complex account totals approximately $816, 700.
Commissioner Kathy Tremont noted that she was all for improving quality of life. " She favors having a work session with oher entities prior to the June 30th commission meeting, "So that we could all come together and make a good decision for everybody in our community as to how we want to spend this money and what to do with it." The other entities could include the City, USD 475, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chamber of Commerce and EDC.
County Chairman Keith Ascher thinks the topic requires more discussion. "Get more specifics, get a plan. I agree that we need to talk to different entities." Ascher favors doing a feasibility study before anything is done on this issue.
Members of the CVB staff and Advisory Committee expressed some opposition and concern ranging from the CVb should have more input on how the one percent is spent, to people traveling to a destination do not look at the transient guest tax cost.
The discussion Monday evening lasted more than an hour.