Travel and Tourism Board approves final budget

Tuesday afternoon, the Travel and Tourism Board approved the final budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016. The budget comes in at $220,120, which includes revenue of $55,000 for a beginning balance, $165,000 from the Lodging Tax and $120 income interest.

Expenses included: $14,050 for administration, $44,000 for personnel services, $30,375 for billboards, $41,595 for publications, $11,000 for television, $6,000 for radio, $10,920 for contractual arrangements, $100 for indirect costs and $8,000 for contingency.

A budget hearing was held prior to the regular meeting, and Director Amanda Moeller noted there were no comments made.

Also during the meeting, the board approved the resignation of Cindy Ellison. Prior to acceptance of her resignation, Ellison said, “It’s been a pleasure, that’s for sure. I’ve enjoyed being on this board, so with a heavy heart I resign.” Board Chairman Carl Leyba expressed his appreciation to Ellison for her service, adding she’s been a joy to work with.

Moeller said she would go before East Thermopolis and inform them of the resignation and the need to fill the seat with someone for the remainder of Ellison’s term, about two years.

Also approved were the board bylaws, and Pinnacle Bank signature cards were passed around for board members to sign.

Moeller reported there was discussion with the Park County Travel Council regarding a faded billboard in Shoshoni, and the council will redo it at their expense. The board and council are in a cooperative with regard to the billboard, with each entity paying half of the monthly rent.

She explained the sign is visible to those coming in from the east heading west, and advertises for Yellowstone via Thermopolis and Cody. “It’s a very pretty billboard,” Moeller said. “It’s just faded.”

Moeller further noted the billboard price for the board would be going up by a few dollars. She recommended the board continue in the cooperative with the council; a $60 amendment will be made to the budget to cover the slight increase for the year.

Moeller also shared with the board a summary from the recent Hot City Summer Slam 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, which had about 270 participants from all over Wyoming, as well as Montana and Iowa, and the third annual People of the Earth, which saw 25 people from Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Kansas, Colorado, California, Illinois and Michigan.

Moeller emphasized those with special events need to bring in information about what they did to get their funding. She plans to share information about the events with the board when she has it.

With regard to a recent development, the downloadable tourism app, Moeller shared there were 61 total downloads — 35 for Apple devices, 26 for Android — last quarter. The app was released in the first part of May.