Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Public Measure AM is on the ballot in unincorporated Appanoose County.
Who can vote.
Supporting local communities. Protecting transparency in tourism funding.
Appanoose Forward
Appanoose Forward is a bipartisan political action committee made up of Appanoose County
residents committed to making our county a great place to live, work, visit, and thrive.
We oppose Public Measure AM on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Public Measure AM asks voters to repeal Appanoose County's existing 7% hotel/motel tax
and replace it with a new 7% tax beginning January 1, 2027.
The tax rate would stay the same. What would change is who controls the revenue.
Under the current arrangement, county hotel/motel tax revenue is administered through
the nine-member Appanoose County Tourism Commission. If the measure passes,
administration would return to the three-member Appanoose County Board of Supervisors.
The measure does not specify whether funding would continue to be allocated to the
Tourism Commission or at what level.
Appanoose County Tourism is overseen by a nine-member commission with three
representatives each from Appanoose County, the City of Centerville, and PACT.
The Commission maintains separate operating and reserve bank accounts from PACT,
reviews financial reports at its meetings, and develops an annual tourism budget.
Tourism updates and financial information are also shared with the Board of Supervisors
and Centerville City Council.
Tourism grant applications are evaluated using a standardized scoring process, and
final funding decisions are made by voting members of the Commission.
How are tourism grants awarded, and how is the money accounted for?
Appanoose County Tourism uses a competitive grant process that is open to eligible
businesses, attractions, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations throughout the
county.
Commission members independently score applications using a standardized rubric before
reviewing projects together and voting on funding awards.
Grant recipients must submit year-end reports documenting project results and receipts
for approved expenditures. Funds used for unapproved purposes, or not properly
documented, are subject to repayment. Recipients who fail to complete the required
reporting are ineligible to apply in the following grant cycle.
Two decades of local investment
Invested over 20 years
$3.2 million
Tourism grants awarded
$815,000
Local grant recipients
96
Tourism grants, marketing, events, and initiatives have supported Centerville, Moravia,
Moulton, Rathbun, and other parts of the county, including historic preservation, parks
and recreation, downtown revitalization, community events, and destination marketing.
Tourism's economic impact
Visitors spent an estimated $37.3 million in Appanoose County in 2025.
Tourism spending reaches restaurants, lodging properties, local retailers, attractions,
and other businesses. It also contributes to employment and generates public tax revenue.
About Appanoose Forward
Our committee currently opposes Public Measure AM and supports retaining the existing
Tourism Commission funding arrangement. We engage with issues affecting the long-term
success of Appanoose County and encourage community involvement in public decisions.
