“It’s not that I don’t want to have the events,” says Fairfield Councilman Jason Bosley. “I want to do it right.”
On Friday of last week, Bosley had gone to social media to voice his concerns about Hotel/Motel monies the City of Fairfield will be spending on two Christmas events during the month of December.
Councilman Bosley asserts that Hotel/Motel funds may only be used for tourism, meaning overnight visitors. Tourists are informally defined as “heads in beds.”
Further, Bosley referenced the two-part test for using Hotel/Motel funds that was outlined by Brian Sullivan of Texas Hotel & Lodging Association during a budget workshop held on August 27, 2018 (scroll to the end for a link to the raw audio of that presentation).
First, money spent must directly enhance and promote tourism and the hotel and convention industry.
Second, those monies spent must fit into one of nine categories:
1) Convention Centers / Visitor Centers
2) Registration of Convention delegates
3) Advertising and Promotion programs to attract tourism
4) Promotion of The Arts
5) Historical Restoration and Preservation
6) Certain Sporting Event related expenses
7) Certain Sporting related structures
8) Certain Tourist Shuttles and
9) Signage directing tourists to local attractions
Fairfield Mayor Kenneth Hughes contends that the funds are being spent properly, and that they do meet the criteria for Hotel/Motel expenses.
“Yes, it puts ‘heads in beds,’ and it promotes our city,” says Mayor Hughes. He states that the annual Christmas events, which occur over a month’s time, are one of Fairfield’s biggest draws.
The City events include Old Fashion Christmas on Saturday, December 1st and Jingle All The Way on Saturday, December 15th.
These are coupled with two Shop Local events sponsored by Fairfield Chamber of Commerce: Plaid Saturday on Saturday, November 24th and Elf Adventure / Sip, Snack & Shop on December 6th; as well as the December 10th Christmas In The Park, hosted by Fairfield Lake State Park; and a second night for the Nativity Scene and Petting Zoo, presented by River of Life Family Worship Center.
Councilman Bosley’s other objection regards what he believes to be an excessive amount of money for the two City events.
A total of $30,300 has been budgeted for the two Christmas events.
“This is a budget, not actual costs,” states Chamber Executive Director Brenda Pate, who leads in organizing these events. She says that they typically stay under budget each year.
According to the break down, these Hotel/Motel funds are used for rentals (such as the new ice slides), services (including the star of the show: Santa Claus), advertising, prizes, and refreshments.
It is important to note that, under their new policy, all invoices for these expenses are submitted directly to City Hall for payment, as outlined in their budget.
“We already voted on it,” states Mayor Hughes, concerning the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year Budget for the City of Fairfield, which included Hotel/Motel expenditures for City events.
All five council members, including Bosley, voted to approve the budget during the September 25, 2018 Council meeting.
However, Bosley says he was under the impression that Council would have the opportunity to make changes to the budget.
The main change being to require City events to be paid for through the General Fund, or to not spend the funds at all.
“Let’s go back to community events, and the meaning of Christmas,” says Bosley, “not spending frivolously.”
According to Mayor Hughes, these Christmas events encourage the residents of our City to come together as a community with their families. “It’s important for our community, for the camaraderie,” he says.
“It is something we do every year, and we do it well,” concludes Mayor Hughes.
Below is the raw audio of the August 27, 2018 presentation by Brian Sullivan of Texas Hotel & Lodging Association to the Fairfield City Council. Headphones are recommended.
