Written by guest columnist Andy McDonald
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The Berea Tourism Commission has budgeted $200,000 for Berea City Pool renovations as part of its 2024-2025 spending plan, which now goes to the Berea City Council for final review.
Officials said renovations to the aging facility, which opened in 1993, are scheduled to begin after the end of the upcoming summer season.
A review of the annual tourism budget took place at last Wednesday’s business meeting, at which time Berea City Councilor Jerry Little thanked planning commissioners for the funding. The tourism industry has also poured money into other tourist facilities in recent years, including spending on shared trails, the Silver Creek Bike Park, boardwalks and the Chestnut Street Pavilion.
Business and Tourism Development Director Donna Angell said the proposed budget includes $1.6 million in projected revenue for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, including about $200,000 in hotel transient occupancy taxes and city tax revenue. That includes $1.3 million in restaurant taxes. The remaining revenue is expected to come from intergovernmental grants and investment returns.
Plans to purchase the tourist trolley still stand, and the tourism budget includes $210,000 for its potential purchase. In April, the commission called for amending the trolley line item in the 2023-2024 budget from $150,000 to $225,000, a proposal that Berea City Councilman Steve Caudill said would cost the trolley It was submitted after requesting further information about the benefits. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, labor and material costs have skyrocketed, and the proposed cost of the trolley has increased significantly.
At last week’s meeting, Chairman Bill West said the commission may be able to make up the difference in the cost of purchasing the trolleys with savings from other projects.
Approximately $800,000 in building and grounds maintenance is planned for next year’s budget, which takes effect July 1, including $35,000 for exterior repairs to the Bellaire Hotel and $35,000 for exterior repairs to the Bellaire Welcome Center. That includes $30,000 for tiling the back entrance. Facility repairs.Purchase for Bellaire Gallery and Event Center [the Tolle Building] Includes $200,000 in furniture and wall art. The facility is in its final stages of completion, and Angell said the city has already received requests for private rentals.
Additionally, $800,000 is included to update and renovate signage throughout the city. The base of most of the signs is in good condition, Angell said, but the tourism board is planning a new color scheme for the signs, moving from burgundy and gold to ultramarine blue. Several banners in these colors have already been rolled out along North Broadway Street in Old Town.
Advertising budgets remain stable at $300,000 compared to recent years. Later in the conference, media manager Becky Hart will discuss the correlation between the amount of money tourists spend on advertising and the subsequent high levels of activity on social media, activation of events in Bellaire and support for local businesses. A report showing the relationship was published.
Bill West, chairman of the Berea Tourism Commission, said the budget is large and the expected cost of the signage is a concern.
“We’ve got big things in here. We’ve got trolleys, we’ve got signs,” West said, acknowledging the cost of the signs is staggering. “And money is being spent on furniture and supplies for the tall building. He then pledged $200,000 in pool support.”
At the end of Mr. Angell’s presentation, the committee unanimously approved the 2024-2025 tourism budget.
