Tourism Grant Guide parameters
Summary
An 8% tax paid by visitors funds tourism promotion (70% by state law) while 30% — about $741,000 in 2025 — goes to the city's general fund. Understanding the split matters as the council debates tourism grants and big projects like YMCA field turf.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Aug 3, 2026.
Impact analysis
Visitors paid over $2.4 million in room tax in 2025; about $741,000 of that supports the city budget without touching local taxpayers.
Local taxpayers, who benefit indirectly as visitor spending offsets city costs.
New or returning applicants who could face a freeze on applications or smaller, shrinking awards.
Mentions & discussions (2)
Committee of the Whole - Aug 3, 2026
An 8% tax paid by visitors funds tourism promotion (70% by state law) while 30% — about $741,000 in 2025 — goes to the city's general fund. Understanding the split matters as the council debates tourism grants and big projects like YMCA field turf.
Tourism Commission - Jul 21, 2026
Commissioners debated a draft grant guide covering caps on request amounts, yearly reductions, physical event locations, and budgeting for signature events. Mayor Krause suggested freezing new applications for the rest of 2026, and a legal review was requested — changes that would shape who can apply and how much they can get.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Lake Geneva
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.