Polk County Commissioner Greg Brooks declared tourism numbers released by the county’s Chamber of Commerce “fake news” in the commission’s July meeting.
He said because of the way the Chamber presents the numbers, Polk County residents believe county government gets $29 million a year.
Brent Lambert told the commissioners in their August meeting, “Polk County government does not get that $29 million.”
Lambert, East Tennessee division manager for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, and Josh Golden, research director for the department, met with commissioners Thursday, August 15. They explained how tourism dollars that impact the county are calculated.
Brooks said the $29 million figure is “very misleading.” Citizens ask commissioners, “What the h... are they doing with all that money?”
Commissioner Samantha Trantham confirmed, “Our Chamber is telling people we’re getting all this money.”
Golden told commissioners, “It’s up to the Chamber to put numbers on their (web)site.”
He explained the $29 million is the impact of tourism spending based on a formula used by the department. That formula includes a calculation that 21.2% of business sales are related to tourism. The formula is the same as used in 25 other states and by U.S. Tourism.
Commissioner Debbie Davis concluded, “There’s also a little bit of guess work in all this.”
Gibson provided a handout, Polk County Travel Snapshot (2022), that showed a direct visitor economic impact to Polk County of $29,387,600.
That included employment, labor income, state taxes and $1,071,800 in local taxes. The taxes are recorded in three categories: Amusement and Recreation Services, Eating and Drinking Places, and Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps and Other Lodging Places.
Gibson then explained the dollar figure in local taxes would include those paid to Polk County, Copperhill, Ducktown and Benton.
An estimated $700,000 goes directly into the Polk County government General Fund.
Brooks agreed that was close to his estimate. He repeated several times, “We’re glad to have our tourism.”