Consolidation Joint Board Hears County Hotel Tax Information

DUBOIS – The City of DuBois-Sandy Township Consolidation Joint Board gathered information regarding how Clearfield County’s hotel tax is redistributed.

Clearfield County Commissioner Tim Winters attended Wednesday’s meeting, and told members of the board that a 5-percent hotel tax is collected by the organization, Visit Clearfield County. That money is then redistributed through grants and sponsorships awarded by Visit Clearfield County.

Since 2020, it is estimated that the DuBois region has been awarded $95,000 in non-baseball related requests, and another $90,000 in requests related to baseball events in town.

Here are additional notes from the June 19th City of DuBois-Sandy Township Consolidation Joint Board meeting:

Visit Clearfield County

· Clearfield County Commissioner Tim Winters visited the Consolidation Joint Board meeting to offer suggestions regarding “Visit Clearfield County” and answer some questions.

· Visit Clearfield receives the 5% Clearfield County hotel tax. Then Visit Clearfield distributes the money through grant and sponsorship proposals it receives.

· Winters explained to the Joint Board, made up of DuBois City Council and Sandy Township Board of Supervisors, that money is only awarded to those who apply for it. September is a key month in the process.

· Asked by members of the Joint Board, Winters did not have many exact figures to give and urged contacting Visit Clearfield. Numbers he could provide:

o From 2020 to 2023, the DuBois region requested $195 thousand and was awarded $95 thousand. These figures are for non-baseball requests.

o 2020, 2022 through 2024 saw $144 thousand for baseball related requests. The DuBois region was granted $90 thousand.

o Many different groups requested baseball related funds. This money did not go to one group.

Positions

· This was Chris Nasuti’s final Joint Board meeting. The Joint Board voted to remove him from the Tax Structure, Budget, and Utility User Fee Subcommittee and replace him with Scott Farrell.

· The Joint Board authorized the respective municipalities to advertise for the following positions:

o Sandy Township Planer/Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer

o Sandy Township Public Works Director

o DuBois City Engineer

·A job description is being developed for a hypothetical “Parks and Recreation Director” position.

o Councilmember Elliot Gelfand suggested prioritizing an “Economic Development” position and left that person decide if a Parks and Rec Director is needed.