By Michael Prochaska
Staff Writer

The Madison City Council voted unanimously Monday to grant the Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce about $88,500 to promote tourism and $37,000 to be allocated for economic development in Fiscal Year 2013.
The $88,500 appropriation accounts for 45 percent of FY12 hotel and motel revenues, according to a written contract, and shall be used solely for promoting tourism.
Approximately $66,000 of those funds are allocated to the Convention and Visitors Bureau, while the remaining $22,000 will be appropriated to the Welcome Center.
An additional sum of $37,000 for FY13 was dedicated to the Chamber of Commerce for advancing economic development.
Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce President Bob Hughes said the funds will pay for general operations, overhead and his salary as county director of economic development.
The economic development expenditure is up by about $2,500 from FY12, Hughes said.

Printed in the June 14, 2012 edition