“The $60,000 Tourism budget is better spent on our school!” This is the opinion of some of our Craig County residents. This opinion is quickly shared, without understanding the legal requirements of these funds. We all know that our school needs financial support, as do fire, rescue, and law enforcement, to name a few. With a county that has diminishing funds internally and externally, these needs are seen in competition with each other. If the county has no economic growth, the funds become increasingly depleted over time and we citizens bear the weight of that choice. There is an opportunity to change this course, consider Tourism as an asset.
A primary source of Tourism dollars come from local lodging. State law mandates that if a county collects taxes on these businesses, then the county must use those dollars to promote those businesses. The county cannot use these dollars for other budget deficits like our school. If Tourism promotes visitors, then businesses grow: lodging, eating establishments, and local stores. Growing businesses not only thrive for their families but also provide more county income through taxes. Visitors are helping our local funding grow and counter the present declining course.
The funding resources we depend on outside the county are very likely to decline, further draining our funding pool, reducing services to our citizens. Let us be more pro-active and act to stimulate our local economy. See Tourism as an asset. No one wants to see our neighbors suffer because their basic needs aren’t met. Let us consider the resources we have in this county: 50% National Forest and locally owned businesses, as assets to promote and reap the financial return by promoting them.
-Jennifer W. Lovejoy
Craig County
