The Spokane Valley Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) on Oct. 29 approved its funding recommendations for the 2026 grant cycle and voted to transfer $447,000 from the city’s 2% operating lodging-tax fund (Fund 105) into the capital lodging-tax fund (Fund 104).

The unanimous transfer vote reduced the pool of 2% operating/marketing funds available for awards to $483,000, staff said. The committee then voted 4–1 to approve the recommended awards as displayed on the LTAC spreadsheet; one member objected to partial allocations and said they would have preferred either full funding or no funding for some applicants.

Why it matters: The transfer preserves additional capital resources for larger-ticket facility projects eligible under state law while ensuring a smaller operating/marketing pool this year. The LTAC makes funding recommendations; the City Council retains final awarding authority and will receive the committee’s administrative report in November and act on awards in December, staff said.

What the committee approved: LTAC members reviewed presentations from nine applicants and ranked proposals on the committee spreadsheet before arriving at the final recommendations. The applicants heard during the meeting included the City of Spokane Valley (Spokane Valley Cross Country course), Spokane Conservation District (Scale House Market), Cody Productions (Spokane Motorcycle Show), CNC Productions (RV Show), Washington State Quilters, Spokane County Fair & Expo Center (Interstate Fair), Spokane Valley Hub Sports Center, Spokane Valley Heritage Museum, and Inland Northwest Wildlife Council (Bighorn Outdoor Adventure Show). Award amounts for each recipient are shown on the LTAC recommendation spreadsheet and will be included in the staff administrative report to City Council; those detailed per‑applicant numbers were not fully transcribed in the meeting record.

Formal actions recorded at the meeting:
- Motion to transfer $447,000 from Fund 105 to Fund 104 (capital). Outcome: approved unanimously. (Legal threshold: N/A for allocation motion.)
- Motion to approve LTAC funding recommendations as presented on the committee spreadsheet. Outcome: approved, 4–1. (One member registered opposition to partial funding allocations.)
- Motion to request a staff presentation and application showing how LTAC capital funds might be used to support a proposed multi‑sheet ice facility. Outcome: approved unanimously; staff to prepare materials.

What LTAC will do next: Staff will transmit the committee’s recommendations to the City Council for the scheduled administrative review on Nov. 18 and the December award decision. The committee also asked city staff to prepare a formal application and presentation describing potential use(s) of capital lodging-tax funds — including possible support for a proposed ice arena — so the committee can consider capital allocations outside the annual award timeline.

Meeting evidence: Committee members adopted the transfer on a unanimous voice vote, and later approved the slate of recommendations 4–1 after spreadsheet tallies were displayed on the meeting screen. No final dollar amounts were read aloud for every grant during the meeting; the staff spreadsheet contains the detailed award figures and will be included in the administrative report to council.

Taper: The City Council makes the final award determinations; LTAC’s approval sends its recommendation forward for council action in December.