Franklin County officials say the recent decision not to renew funding for the Rend Lake Area Tourism Council (RLATC) does not represent a withdrawal from tourism investment, but rather a move toward increased oversight, transparency, and long-term planning for tourism in the Rend Lake region.
Earlier this week, RLATC announced it would cease operations after the Franklin County Board declined to renew its funding agreement. That decision cut off the council’s access to local hotel and motel tax revenue, commonly referred to as bed tax funds. RLATC cited the loss of those funds as the reason it could no longer meet state grant compliance requirements and would begin winding down operations.
Franklin County Finance Commissioner Brad Wilson said the board’s decision was driven by concerns over accountability, organizational structure, and how public tourism dollars were being spent.
According to Wilson, RLATC previously operated under a formal intergovernmental agreement with the county, which allowed it to receive bed tax revenue and required regular financial reporting to the county board. That agreement expired and was never renewed. During that period, Wilson said the tourism council reorganized as a private nonprofit without the county’s knowledge, eliminating the county’s ability to receive financial reports or exercise oversight.
“When that agreement ended and the organization became private, we stopped receiving financial updates. That raised concerns,” Wilson said.
Those concerns deepened when county officials learned how much of the tourism funding was being used for salaries. Wilson noted that while longtime tourism director Rick Linton and his wife previously received minimal compensation, the structure changed under new leadership.
Wilson said the executive director position paid approximately $62,000 annually, with an assistant director earning around $36,000, totaling nearly $100,000 in salaries. At the same time, the council was receiving about $109,000 in bed tax revenue.
“When you’re paying about $100,000 in salaries and only bringing in about $109,000 in bed tax revenue, almost all of your tourism money is going to payroll,” Wilson said. “That just didn’t make sense to the board.”
Wilson said both the county and RLATC ultimately agreed not to continue the partnership, and the executive director resigned shortly thereafter. In its public statement, RLATC said it supported the county’s decision and complied immediately.
While the council’s closure has raised concerns among some residents and business owners, Wilson stressed that the county board is not abandoning tourism. Instead, the county plans to reestablish a tourism board under a renewed agreement that restores transparency and accountability.
Wilson said upcoming county board meetings will address the formation of the new board, including appointing members, filling vacancies, and selecting leadership to keep Franklin County in good standing with state requirements.
He also pushed back against online claims that the county does not care about tourism.
“That’s just not true,” Wilson said. “We want more tourism. We want more people coming to Franklin County.”
Wilson pointed to events such as national youth shooting tournaments and said future tourism efforts should better capitalize on Rend Lake’s assets. One specific goal he highlighted is bringing back Fourth of July fireworks at Rend Lake, which once attracted large crowds and hundreds of boats.
“There was a time when Rend Lake was packed on the Fourth of July,” Wilson said. “Now, there’s nothing going on, and people are going elsewhere. That’s something we need to change.”
With renovations underway at the Rend Lake Resort and an increase in short-term rentals such as Airbnbs and VRBOs, Wilson said the county is well-positioned for tourism growth if the right structure is put in place. More details about the future tourism board and new initiatives are expected to be discussed during early 2026 Franklin County Board meetings.