2023-LT-Application-GuidelinesGuidelines
About the Program
Tourism is funded through a tax on lodging at hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, camps,
and other lodging facilities in which guests stay for a short time.
Eligibility
Applicants may consist of convention and visitors bureaus, destination marking organizations,
nonprofits, including main street organizations, lodging associates, or chambers of commerce,
and additionally the cities or towns themselves.
Activities which will be considered for funding include, but are not limited to, those that
increase tourism by RCW 67.28.1816:
(1) Lodging tax revenues under this chapter may be used, directly by
any municipality or indirectly through a convention and visitor's
bureau or destination marketing organization for:
a) Tourism marketing;
b) The marketing and operations of special events and festivals
designed to attract tourists;
c) Supporting the operations and capital expenditures of tourism -
related facilities owned or operated by a municipality or a public
facilities district created under chapters 35.57 and 36.100 RCW;
or
d) Supporting the operations of tourism -related facilities owned or
operated by nonprofit organizations described under 26 U.S.C.
Sec. 501 (c)(3) and 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue
code of 1986, as amended.
The expected outcome of such tourism marketing would be to increase economic activity
during the funding year and subsequent years by increasing the number of guests lodged in
the area, additional meals, sales of souvenirs and gifts.
In addition, Applicants applying for use of revenues must provide the City of Port Orchard
estimates of how any moneys received will result in increases in the number of people
traveling for business or pleasure on a trip:
(a) Away from their place of residence or business and staying overnight in paid
accommodations;
(b) To a place fifty miles or more one way from their place of residence or business for the
day or staying overnight; or
(c) From another country or state outside of their place of residence or their business.
Required for All Applicants
• Current City of Port Orchard business license;
• All application questions must be completed;
• If you received lodging tax funds from the prior year, you must attach the previous
year's Exhibit C JLARC Municipality Reporting form; and
• The application must be signed by the person who has the authority to sign documents
such as contracts.
Reporting Requirements, if Awarded
If a recipient received lodging tax funds the previous year, the previous year's reporting MUST
be included with the application.
Lodging Tax Guidelines
Page 2 of 3
All recipients must submit a report to the City of Port Orchard by March 1, 2024, describing
the actual number of people traveling for business or pleasure on a trip:
(a) Away from their place of residence or business and staying overnight in paid
accommodations;
(b) To a place fifty miles or more one way from their place of residence or business for the
day or staying overnight; or
(c) From another country or state outside of their place of residence or their business. A
municipality receiving a report must: Make such report available to the local legislative body
and the public; and furnish copies of the report to the joint legislative audit and review
committee and members of the local lodging tax advisory committee.
Reimbursement Process, if Awarded
The following must be submitted with the Claim for Reimbursement form:
• Each item must include proof of purchase and payment, i.e. copy of the invoice stating
it has been paid or a copy of the check for payment.
• If requesting reimbursement for advertising (event or marketing), a copy of the ad
must be submitted or clearly indicated on reimbursement form or invoice what is being
advertised. Stating the ad is for Port Orchard tourism or marketing' is not sufficient.
• If requesting reimbursement for signage, a copy of the sign must be submitted.
• If requesting reimbursement for operations, and you are claiming a percentage of the
cost related to promoting Port Orchard, the percentage must be included with the
submittal. (For example, if your organization is requesting reimbursement of 50% of
the total invoice, 50% must be indicated on the invoice or Claim for Reimbursement
form)
Ineligible Items for Reimbursements, if Awarded
• Items purchased and no sales tax was paid, even if there were no requirements to pay
at the time of purchase. (For example, marketing materials bought out of state, but if
were bought at Staples ... tax would apply.)
• Items spent on beautification of the City or a business. Only items that are for an
operation expense of an event designed to attract tourists will be accepted.
• Late fees.
• Finance charges.
• Items purchased for events that are not promoting Port Orchard.
Required Documentation, if Awarded
If the Port Orchard City Council approves your application through the budget process, the
following is required by applicant's:
• The organization must enter into a Professional Services Agreement for Tourism
Promotion (Lodging Tax) Services with the City of Port Orchard;
• The organization must submit a Certificate of Insurance, with endorsements, with the
signed Professional Services Agreement for Tourism Promotion (Lodging Tax) Services;
• Prior to receiving reimbursement, all supporting documentation must be submitted with
Claim for Reimbursement; and
• The organization must provide the City of Port Orchard a JLARC Municipality Report
(included with Professional Services Agreement for Tourism Promotion (Lodging Tax)
Services) no later than January 315t of the following year.
Lodging Tax Guidelines
Page 3 of 3
Application Process
The LTAC Application for 2023 funding is available with a submission deadline set
for September 12, 2022, by 4:00 pm.
• Applications may be submitted by any organization, group, or business interested in
promoting tourism in the eligible areas noted above.
• Applicants will be requested to provide an oral presentation to the Lodging Tax Advisory
Committee (LTAC).
• Committee recommendations are completed and submitted to the City Council in October
to be included in the following year's budget.
2022 Meeting Schedule
Accepting Applications
Committee Reviews Applications
Interview Applicants
Committee Discusses Applications
Committee Recommendations to Council
Council Approval
Contracts Ready for Signature
8/15/2022 to 9/12/2022
Approx. the Week of 9/12/2022
Approx. the Week of 9/19/2022
Approx. the Week of 9/19/2022
10/18/2022
10/25/2022
12/30/2022