Trinidad Council Moves Lodging Tax Control to City Staff

At its November 18 meeting the Trinidad City Council advanced a significant change in how the city manages lodging tax revenue, voting to propose elimination of the Lodging Tax Advisory Board and transfer oversight to city staff under a pay as you go model. The ordinance will require a public hearing on December 16 before final adoption, giving residents an opportunity to weigh in on a restructuring that officials said responds to turnover and unclear roles on the advisory board and to the need for more flexibility after voters approved an increase in the lodging tax to 6 percent in November 2024 while overnight stay revenue fell short of expectations.

The proposed shift has immediate implications for how tourism and marketing dollars are prioritized and spent. Moving administration to staff could accelerate decision making and adjust spending to match fluctuating revenues, but it also reduces a formal community advisory role that many residents have used to shape tourism investments. City leaders will face a choice between operational flexibility and maintaining structured community input when the ordinance returns for final action in mid December.

In the same meeting the council introduced the City of Trinidad 2026 budget on first reading, presenting a proposed total across funds of $78,854,826 roughly $78.8 million. Council described the figure as a lean budget, trimmed nearly $10 million from earlier requests and focused on stability. A public hearing on the budget and mill levy setting is also scheduled for December 16.

Council members approved liquor licenses for two new businesses that reflect ongoing local economic development. Grandpa Charlie's, a family entertainment center at 1414 Van Buren Street with a restaurant and bar, six golf simulators and an event space of about 9,600 square feet is planned to open in January 2026. Love's Travel Stop number 1035 at 1001 El Moro Road, which opened earlier in November, was authorized to sell beer and wine for off premises consumption.

Other meeting items included Fire Department revenue reporting that noted income from wildland deployments and Fire Recovery USA, reappointments and commission appointments, authorization to purchase a Caterpillar 420 backhoe with financing details, and municipal court notes about enforcement of the recent camping ordinance with deferred judgment arrangements for several defendants, mostly unhoused individuals, intended to balance enforcement and compassion. Residents seeking full meeting minutes and official agendas may contact the City of Trinidad for details and to learn how to participate in the December hearings.