Port Townsend: Chamber won”t renew lodging tax management contract with city

PORT TOWNSEND — The Chamber of Commerce has decided not to renew its contract with the city of Port Townsend, relieving itself from responsibility of managing city lodging tax revenues.

With the contract expiring at the end of the year, city officials have time to come up with an alternative plan to manage money designed to promote Port Townsend tourism from the tax on hotel, motel and bed-and-breakfast room rents.

City Finance Director Michael Legarsky said the chamber recently made the decision because of cost overruns associated with managing the lodging tax funds.

A recent city manager’s audit revealed that the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, or LTAC, had bookkeeping problems.

After the chamber board decided to discontinue the contract, the city announced that it would seek applications for a Port Townsend marketing coordinator position.

Nancy Borino has held the position for the past six years.

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