Budget Time For Visitors Commission
WARSAW — As budget time looms, the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission has the task of deciding where to divide funding.
Local entities came to the commission’s monthly meeting, held Wednesday morning, Aug. 12. Dr. Nate Bosch, representing Kosciusko County Lakes and Streams, discussed the role the local lakes play in tourism.
Bosch also believes the Tippecanoe River is an up-and-coming local attraction. Projects have been underway to open approximately 30 miles of the river for kayakers and canoeists, making what he called a blueway, a water version of a greenway.
Bosch also mentioned local studies done on the lakes over the years to detect various toxins and species like blue-green algae. Bosch said the department’s most reliable sources of income come from endowment money or annual funding. He asked the commission to support either or both. An amount of $100,000 was initially suggested, however there were reservations about giving just one entity that amount.
Next up were Erin Rowland and Tina Keaffer of the Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Rowland noted that the CVB is still in the process of interviewing candidates for a new executive director and they expect to have it narrowed down soon. She noted the executive director’s salary is currently set at $55,000, based on what other area CVBs are paying theirs.
“This is the highest we’re willing to go,” she said. “It’s still low compared to other places.”
In all, Rowland requested $405,541, the same as last year.
The commission will take these and other tourism-related entities’ requests into consideration and meet again in September to review and propose a budget. The final budget will be presented to the county council in October for approval.