For a journalist, the word transparency, especially when connected to government institutions, is one of the best words to hear.

We need transparency in government to be able to accurately do our jobs, and when that’s lacking, it can make both media and government institutions look bad. As they say, the cover-up is worse than the crime — people’s anger can reach new heights when their concerns aren’t properly acknowledged. 

At the Powell Tribune, we’re committed to providing the facts, but we also need to rely on institutions to provide us with some of those facts. 

So, it was good to be at a Park County Travel Council meeting recently and hear the word “transparency.”

Specifically, the thought from some of the board members (it seemed everyone else agreed) was that the lodging tax ballot question might be a smoother process and passed by a greater margin in 2028 if voters had a better understanding of just how the tax works and what it funds. 

I agree. 

The lodging tax is complicated. For instance, taxes collected by a business in, let’s say June, are reported as the July lodging tax collections. Also, lodging taxes collected in 2024 fund the fiscal year 2025 budget. Voters approved a 4% lodging tax four years ago and a 2% lodging tax this year, but it did not change the fact that 4% of the total 7% statewide lodging tax is returned to the county. 

We have written many stories about it in the Tribune, and we still get caught up in some of the intricacies. 

These collections are still money gathered from the public and, even if much of the public is not from in-state, it’s still very reasonable for people to want to know how these taxes are used. 

Travel Council Executive Director Ryan Hauck said at the November meeting the council is thinking about putting what he called “editorials” in local media to describe just how the money is being used. That’s a good step in the right direction.

I also commend those who have questioned the travel council and other boards about various issues. People ought to hold government entities accountable, and we are happy to be a part of that — it’s part of a newspaper’s job description. 

These entities can assist us and the public by being as transparent as possible.