Sonoma County supervisors decided Tuesday to cut by about $1 million the amount of money they will send the local tourism marketing organization through taxes levied on overnight hotel stays, choosing instead to make more funds available for emergency responders who say they face a heavy burden from increased visitation to the region.
The cut, which won’t take effect until next fiscal year, applies to the share of hotel-bed tax revenue received by Sonoma County Tourism. Currently, the bureau receives a share of the funds equal to an estimated $3.1 million this year. The Board of Supervisors voted to lower that portion amid a broader debate about how to spend the bed taxes and offset the impacts of the county’s booming tourism sector.