The public has a right to know how public money is spent.
Please join the Lycoming County Tourism Coalition in petitioning the Lycoming County Commissioners for a forensic audit of the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau.
The expected County Hotel Tax revenue of more than one million dollars per year is, by law, to be used only by the Visitors Bureau for tourism promotion in Lycoming County. The Visitors Bureau is essentially a committee of the Chamber of Commerce. Tourist promotion is provided free to Chamber members while other businesses and nonprofits are charged. Neither the Visitors Bureau's quarterly financial reports nor the generalized end-of-year audits contain nearly enough information to guarantee that the hotel tax money is being used appropriately or kept scrupulously separate from the Chamber's operating funds.
A complete forensic audit will detail exactly how funds have been spent over the past five years and establish much needed procedures for future transparency.
Commissioners, please order a forensic audit of the Visitors Bureau.
