News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
As Putnam County prepares to host high school football teams from across the state, hotels will be busy.
So far in 2020 hotel-motel tax is down 19 percent. Mayor Randy Porter said this is a good comeback for the county considering the tax revenue was down by 70 percent at the peak of the pandemic.
“Our economy seems to be doing really well right now in Putnam County,” Porter said. “Sales tax numbers have been up each month compared to last year, and the hotel motel has kind of been lagging a little bit, but to only be down 19 percent over the last five months is really well I think.”
Porter said he expects hotel-motel revenues to continue its upward trend, especially once a COVID vaccine is available. One event that will play a role in that rise is this weekend’s BlueCross Bowl. The three day TSSAA state football championship brings over 35,000 fans to Tucker Stadium each year.
“I think once we get past COVID, and folks can kind off get back to some form of normalcy,” Porter said. “I think folks have not been going and traveling like they have before, so I think you will see a major increase once everyone gets back to normal.
Hotel spaces in Putnam County have increased recently with more planned projects on the way. Porter said the growth is encouraging for the county.
“I think it is promising,” Porter said. “I think our economy in Putnam County is promising. I think it is in Tennessee also. We just got to see how it works out in the next couple of months. From now until probably the end of January to February will be crucial as to how we deal with COVID.”
The two funds that receive the Hotel-Motel tax are the Parks and Recreation Department and the county’s debt services for bond payments and school debt. Porter said a small percentage is also used for the county’s tourism.
