One member of the city of Manitowoc’s former tourism group isn’t happy with the now approved 2025 city budget.
Manitowoc Area Visitors and Convention Bureau Vice Chairman Gary Stolp told the common council during a public comment period that they needed to work with the MAVCB again after Manitowoc and Two Rivers both decided to end their agreement with the group.
Issues between the MAVCB and Manitowoc arose back in 2021 with a disagreement on room tax dollars. Since then, the Clipper City has formed Visit Manitowoc to promote tourism.
Stolp rehashed what happened to the former visitor’s center building and brought up the ruling from Judge Mark Roher, who ruled in favor of the MAVCB and that Manitowoc was not following state law.
He claimed since then that the city hasn’t formed an agreement after Rohrer said it needs to happen.
He also claimed that there was a slush fund being used to drive the MAVCB out of business.
He called for the city council to work with the group.
“Let’s not look for just the short term of running MAVCB out of business,” he stated. “Let’s look at the long-term approach in being able to move the city forward and being able to promote Manitowoc as the great entity that it is, the gem along the lakeshore. The city council needs to stop action on the budget and rectify this wrong to the city budget.”
The council didn’t discuss the tourism aspect during the budget discussion before approving the budget last night (November 18th).
Stolp tells SeehaferNews.com that he was disappointed, especially during the council election when he said he asked if they would use taxpayer dollars for tourism.
“One of them four voted not to accept the budget,” he said. “The other three go status quo and follow with what was recommended. I am upset, but hopefully when the next Room Tax commission meeting comes up, we will be able to put together some type of a contract for MAVCB.”
Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels spoke on WOMT’s Be My Guest Program about some of the comments. He said that Rohrer didn’t rule that Visit Manitowoc was illegal, but rather “if the city is to contract with a tourism entity to utilize Room Tax dollars, 70% of the total collected Room Tax dollars. We could only contract with the Manitowoc Area Visitors and Conventions Bureau.”
The mayor continues saying that the ruling allowed them to create any department they want, they just can’t use the 70% of the Room Tax collected to fund it.
He also says the council that 100% of Room Tax dollars should go to tourism and that no local tax dollars are funding tourism.
There will be more discussion on the MAVCB issue at the next Room Tax Commission meeting that will happen on December 3rd.
Over $600,000 is going toward Visit Manitowoc for tourism in the budget.
