Tourism Formula Was Revised in Governor’s Vetoes

The Governor also revised the Tourism Formula in his vetoes:

“The Governor revised the tourism formula that the House and Senate approved in the budget they sent him.  The occupancy tax contribution was revised downward from $10 million to $7 million. The percentage distribution was changed as well to from 40% to 57.2% for MOTT and from 60% to 42.8% for the RTCs.

Also the language that would have directed MOTT to expend funds from its own line item 7008-0900 for the operation of the eleven Visitor Centers was vetoed as well. So no money for the centers.”

The change the Governor made to funding:

“Section 39 Reduce By $3,000,000 (amount the Governor cut) to $7,000,000 (new funding level put forth by Governor)

Below is the original wording by the House & Senate in the budget they sent to the Governor:

“There shall be a Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund which shall be administered by the Massachusetts marketing partnership established in section 13A and held by the partnership separate and apart from its other funds. There shall be credited to the fund $10,000,000 from the room occupancy excise imposed by section 3 of chapter 64G and section 22 of chapter 546 of the acts of 1969.
(b) There shall also be credited to the fund all revenue as designated under the Gaming Revenue Fund pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (2) of section 59 of chapter 23K.
(c) All available money in the fund that is unexpended at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure by the fund in the subsequent fiscal year.
(d) Money in the fund shall be applied as follows:
(i) 40 per cent to the Massachusetts marketing partnership; and
(ii) 60 per cent to regional tourism councils.”

Wording Inserted by the Governor:

“There shall be a Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund which shall be administered by the Massachusetts marketing partnership established in section 13A and held by the partnership separate and apart from its other funds. There shall be credited to the fund $7,000,000 from the room occupancy excise imposed by section 3 of chapter 64G and section 22 of chapter 546 of the acts of 1969.
(b) There shall also be credited to the fund all revenue as designated under the Gaming Revenue Fund pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (2) of section 59 of chapter 23K.
(c) All available money in the fund that is unexpended at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure by the fund in the subsequent fiscal year.
(d) Money in the fund shall be applied as follows:
(i) 57.2 per cent to the Massachusetts marketing partnership; and
(ii) 42.8 per cent to regional tourism councils.””