Quality of Life Committee – For the Record

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Aug 6, 2025.  Committee’s discussion of tourism tax shifts toward oversight, by  Courtey Hughett.

    • As Brown County prepares to begin state collection of its new 3 percent innkeepers’ tax, members of the Quality of Life Innkeepers’ Tax Steering Committee held a wide-ranging discussion on July 23 about how the revenue should be managed, monitored and allocated in the years to come.
    • IC 6-9 ARTICLE 9. INNKEEPER’S TAXES; OTHER LOCAL TAXES. Examples from other Indiana Counties. 

July 23, 2025.  Committee debates pros, cons of forming EDC, July 23, 2025 by Courtney Hughett

The Brown County Quality of Life Innkeepers’ Tax Steering Committee met again Wednesday morning, July 9 to continue shaping a plan for how to use millions in new
innkeepers’ tax revenue, with a focus on economic development, tourism infrastructure
and long-term sustainability.  Much of the meeting centered on the future formation
of an Economic Development Corporation (EDC) for Brown County, a nonprofit organization that would pursue outside funding, manage local projects and support both quality-of-life
improvements and tourismdriven initiatives.

June 17, 2025. Second Quality of Life committee meeting focuses on how to spend …
bcdemocrat.com › Local News.
 

Local officials and community members gathered Wednesday evening, June 12, for the second “Quality of Life” committee meeting for the innkeepers’ tax to hammer out details of a proposed three percent increase. If approved, the increase would bring the county’s innkeepers’ tax rate from 5% to 8%, starting July 1. Innkeepers’ tax is collected by lodging businesses from overnight stays.

The meeting was attended by committee members Brian Tadlock, Stephanie Tadlock, Lyn Letsinger-Miller, Darren Byrd, Scott Rudd, Jimmy Tilton, Patty Frensemeier, Amy Oliver and Pam Gould. Several others joined in the audience, including local vacation rental owners and nonprofit representatives.

 
June 10, 2025. New group wants to improve “Quality of Life” for Brown County residents, visitors  By   Courtney Hughett,  – June 10, 202 …

A new group has been formed in Brown County called the “Quality of Life Work Group,” with the goal of using the additional 3 percent from the innkeepers’ tax to improve the quality of life for both tourists and residents.

Members present at the group’s meeting included Scott Dick (Nashville Town Council), Patty Frensemeier (Hills O’Brown Vacation Rentals), Kevin Ault (owner of Seasons Lodge and Hotel Nashville, and president of the Convention & Visitors Commission), Brian Tadlock (chairman of the Convention & Visitors Bureau), Stephanie Tadlock (Moondance Vacation Rentals), Darren Byrd, Scott Rudd, and Gary Huett (county council), Lyn Letsinger-Miller (president of the Brown County Art Gallery Foundation) and Commissioner Kevin Patrick.

Additional members who were not present include Pam Gould (Cornerstone Inn), Barry Herring (Brown County Inn), Jimmy Tilton (Grand View Suites and a member of the Convention & Visitors Commission), Mike Leggins (infrastructure and wastewater), Dave Frensemeier (fire and rescue), Sheriff Brad Stogsdill, John Elliott (Brown County Community Foundation), and Ron  Benson. The group also plans to include representatives from outdoor recreation and the school corporation.

The group held its first public meeting on Tuesday, June 4, to gather feedback from residents and business owners about preliminary ideas.

Brian Tadlock explained that the county initially wanted to use the additional tax revenue for public safety needs tied to the influx of tourists, but the state did not allow it. Instead, four tentative spending categories were developed:

Gary Huett (President County Council) responded that tourism is the county’s main economic driver and emphasized that if Brown County doesn’t meet that need, another community will.

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