Published: Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Tourism tax use questioned
County Councilman John Koster thinks money generated from hotel taxes shouldn't be used to promote a gay men's chorus concert.
A divided Snohomish County Council is expected today to debate whether to spend tax dollars to bring a Seattle-based gay men's chorus to Everett.
County Councilman John Koster said he plans to oppose spending $5,500 in county hotel taxes to promote the Seattle Men's Chorus Holiday Festival.
The group bills itself as the world's largest gay chorus.
"I'll be running an amendment to pull that one," Koster said during committee discussions on Tuesday.
A show is proposed in December at the Everett Civic Auditorium. It is expected to draw 1,100 people to see 200 singers.
The County Council is scheduled to consider the spending proposal today as part of a discussion of what to do with $55,399 in taxes collected from overnight tourist stays.
Money for the men's chorus concert won approval by an advisory committee. In a report, the panel said the concert would associate Snohomish County with "sophisticated" and "first-class cultural events."
Koster disagrees. He declined to be interviewed, but said in an e-mail to The Herald:
"Aside from the fact that the project will have minimal impact in generating overnight stays, I believe there are a great many people who live in Snohomish County that would ill consider the promotion of the Seattle Men's Chorus (who on their own Web-site boast as being '... the largest gay men's chorus in the world') as a 'sophisticated cultural event' or a 'first-class cultural event.'
"In fact, I think many would find this an offensive and poor use of taxpayer dollars," Koster wrote.
The impact on tourism should decide where the money goes, County Councilman Dave Gossett said.
"This fund was not set up to make moral judgments, it was set up to produce economic development in the county and that's how we should use it," he said.
An advisory committee agreed $5,500 in hotel taxes should be spent promoting the concert event through postcards, radio and newspaper advertisements, including areas outside of Snohomish County.
Other recommended funding proposals included $8,000 to publicize "Girls Night Out," a theater, spas and shopping program of the Arts Council of Snohomish County. The Snohomish Festival of Pumpkins might get $6,200, and Village Theatre might get $11,563.
Democratic County Council chairman Kirke Sievers said the Seattle Men's Chorus program is expected to increase the number of hotel stays, one of the requirements to earn tourism funds.
Promoting the event doesn't force anyone to attend against their will, Sievers said.
"Looking at our county during the last 10 years, we have become more diverse," Sievers said. "A person buying a ticket knows what type of show they'll get. They do not have to buy tickets to that performance."
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
County Councilman John Koster said he plans to oppose spending $5,500 in county hotel taxes to promote the Seattle Men's Chorus Holiday Festival.
The group bills itself as the world's largest gay chorus.
"I'll be running an amendment to pull that one," Koster said during committee discussions on Tuesday.
A show is proposed in December at the Everett Civic Auditorium. It is expected to draw 1,100 people to see 200 singers.
The County Council is scheduled to consider the spending proposal today as part of a discussion of what to do with $55,399 in taxes collected from overnight tourist stays.
Money for the men's chorus concert won approval by an advisory committee. In a report, the panel said the concert would associate Snohomish County with "sophisticated" and "first-class cultural events."
Koster disagrees. He declined to be interviewed, but said in an e-mail to The Herald:
"Aside from the fact that the project will have minimal impact in generating overnight stays, I believe there are a great many people who live in Snohomish County that would ill consider the promotion of the Seattle Men's Chorus (who on their own Web-site boast as being '... the largest gay men's chorus in the world') as a 'sophisticated cultural event' or a 'first-class cultural event.'
"In fact, I think many would find this an offensive and poor use of taxpayer dollars," Koster wrote.
The impact on tourism should decide where the money goes, County Councilman Dave Gossett said.
"This fund was not set up to make moral judgments, it was set up to produce economic development in the county and that's how we should use it," he said.
An advisory committee agreed $5,500 in hotel taxes should be spent promoting the concert event through postcards, radio and newspaper advertisements, including areas outside of Snohomish County.
Other recommended funding proposals included $8,000 to publicize "Girls Night Out," a theater, spas and shopping program of the Arts Council of Snohomish County. The Snohomish Festival of Pumpkins might get $6,200, and Village Theatre might get $11,563.
Democratic County Council chairman Kirke Sievers said the Seattle Men's Chorus program is expected to increase the number of hotel stays, one of the requirements to earn tourism funds.
Promoting the event doesn't force anyone to attend against their will, Sievers said.
"Looking at our county during the last 10 years, we have become more diverse," Sievers said. "A person buying a ticket knows what type of show they'll get. They do not have to buy tickets to that performance."
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
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