Port Orchard councilmembers got their first look at recommendation from the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for funding local non-profit organizations with hotel and motel tax money for 2015.

During the Sept. 16 work study session, Frank Grazianai — a member of the LTAC — said the LTAC has more money to allocate than last year.

He said the committee changed the allocation process this year.

“Last year we struggled for several meetings trying to decide,” Grazianai said. “This year, everyone on the committee turned in a paper with the amounts that they suggested every recipient got, then it was all averaged out. “Afterwards, we talked about what the averages were and if we thought it was appropriate for the requestee. Not everyone got what they wanted.”

He noted that 10 percent ($12,000) of the money allocated when into the reserve.

Next year’s projected revenue is $76,000 — an increase from $64,000 in 2014. Councilman Fred Chang said that $76,000 is projected with a carry-over of an additional $43,000 from 2014.

City Clerk Brandy Rinearson said the allocation figures by LTAC cannot be changed, but the council can approve it or not.

She said the council can approve the funding overall or by each item.

“It you don’t accept the funding amount, they get no funding,” Rinearson said.

Under the recommendations, more than $70,000 would go to four groups: Port Orchard Bay Street Association ($17,200), Explore Port Orchard ($16,809), Fathoms o’ Fun Festival ($15,916) and City of Port Orchard Foot Ferry services ($10,571).

Councilwoman Bek Ashby noted Explore Port Orchard is a coalition of five non-profit groups — POBSA, Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce, Sidney Museum and Art Gallery, and Fathoms ‘o Fun Festival — to help promote the city and South Kitsap.

“It’s going to be a consortium of advertising for Port Orchard,” Grazianai said. “That is why we gave them money. They are going to be Port Orchard’s main advertiser.”

Chang said they some of the applicants requested lower amounts because they are part of Explore Port Orchard.

“Many of the applicants lower their request so that the portion they would have asked for advertising would go to Explore Port Orchard,” he said. “It is their way to collectively coordinate for advertising.”

Ashby said she believes the LTAC funding will be used to advertise outside of Port Orchard.

Councilwoman Cindy Lucarelli said it appears there is “some overlap” in the proposed allocations. Chang said there is no overlap.

Councilman Jerry Childs said he could not vote on the recommendation “the way they are structured.”

“I know we want to promote and market our town, but I don’t know if everybody has to promote and market the town to the point where four of these groups are getting $50,000 combined,” Childs said.

Childs said he has problem with VisitKitsap being allocated only $5,685 when they requested $12,000.

Childs said he would like to know what the organizations spent their LTAC funding in 2013. After reviewing the proposed allocations, he said it seems to be “extravagant with some duplications.”

“How much was marketing and who they paid it to,” he said. “I’m trying to evaluate it this is a good use of the citizens’ money. Is there a lot of duplications and effort? I don’t know, I don’t have that information.”

Child added that the reserve money can be used to promote the city’s parks and trails.

“I’ve always felt this money is precious,” he said. “We should use due diligence on how it goes out the door.”

Councilman Rob Putaansuu asked what the $5,685 for VisitKitsap would be used for, but Chang said that Executive Director Patty Graf-Hoke didn’t give any details what the money will be used for.

“We got mixed messages, because they (VisitKitsap) applied to the council for additional funding,” Chang said.

Ashby added she would like to see VisitKitsap get the $12,000 they requested.

Rinearson said if the council rejects the proposed allocations, it goes back to LTAC.

“The council can discuss it and then reject it,” she said. “It goes back to the committee. The committee can discuss it again and bring back a recommendation based on what they heard. They could bring back the same recommendation.”

Mayor Tim Matthes asked if the council wanted to go through each item.

The council reminded Matthes they have to vote on the recommendations.