BOONE, Iowa—The Boone City Council had to make some difficult decisions but did complete the allocation of anticipated Hotel/Motel Tax Revenue for the 2021 Fiscal Year during a special meeting Tuesday evening.  Receipts in the next fiscal year were estimated at $170,000 while applications and previous commitments amounted to nearly $300,000.

The Council had previously committed to offering an incentive for Boulders Inn and Suites, now Cobblestone Inn and Suites, of $200,000 or $40,000 a year for five years.  There is also the commitment to Boone Community Theatre of $10,000 for five years to take control of the Garfield property.  One of the newest additions to the Hotel/Motel Tax is funding for an Economic Development Director for the city.  The Council agreed to half-year funding, or $35,000 for the position that would be in place January 2021.  The Council also approved committing $6,000 for the 4th of July fireworks display and having a special projects line for $5,000.  That will initially be funded with $5,000 from the commitment to Boulders, which could be replaced from elsewhere in the general fund portion of the budget.  The Council also agreed to the use of reserve funds to make the payment to Boone Community Theatre and to make a $5,000 commitment to the Boone County Freedom Rock landscape project.

The largest allocation was made to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Last year the allocation was $70,000 which was reduced to $60,000 this year, which is a Farm Progress Show year.  There was a large reduction in the allocation for the Boone County Economic Development program, dropping from the current $40,000 to $17,000.

The Boone County Historical Society Board had submitted a request for funding and the Council did approve $4,000 subject to the results of a special audit expected before the beginning of the new fiscal year.  There was some concern expressed about pending litigation involving the Boone County Historical Society filed recently by the former Executive Director.  Similar amounts were also approved for the Boone County Fair Board and the Boone Action Association/Boone’s River Valley Festival.  Both those allocations are less that the current fiscal year.

Funding requests from HIRTA, the Boone Senior Citizens Center and the volunteer Seven Oaks Ski Patrol were denied.