BOSCOBEL - Last year was a challenging one for small businesses due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and motels were no exception, with occupancy rates down substantially. As a result, room tax funds were also down significantly, including in Boscobel.
In February 2019, the Boscobel Room Tax and Appropriations Committee distributed $35,500. Last year it was $25,000 with funds collected the previous year on the city’s 5% room tax.
Currently, there is about $6,000 in available room tax funding, which is well short of the $35,500 requested, estimated 2021 revenues are $24,200.
This year’s requests include $20,000 to the Chamber of Commerce, $5,000 to Reliving Our Heritage, $5,000 to the Boscobel Depot Heritage Museum, $2,500 to the Wisconsin River Trail Organization, and $1,000 each to the farmer’s market, fire department and Radio/Flower Project.
Meeting last Tuesday night, the Room Tax Committee distributed the following amounts based on projections for 2021:
• Chamber of Commerce, $18,000;
• Boscobel Depot, $3,000;
• Wisconsin River Trail, $1,500; and
• Boscobel Farmer’s Market, $1,000.
The funding request from Jean Patten of Reliving Our Heritage was denied due to declining attendance and concerns expressed regarding the revenues and large net loss for the even, as well as lack of information presented to the committee.
“I’m just not comfortable with the event,” said committee member Karl Krogen.