Committee approves $50,000 in tourism funds for Manchester sports fields

The Coffee County Budget & Finance Committee approved a motion to allocate $50,000 from the county's tourism capital funds to the City of Manchester to support baseball and softball field expansion and maintenance.

The request was relayed to the committee by the mayor and referenced an email from Jeff Damron, a city administrator who noted that Manchester hosted 26 travel tournaments last year and expects more this year; commissioners said events of that type bring overnight visitors and motel stays that benefit local tourism revenue. A motion to give $50,000 to Manchester (from tourism‑restricted funds) was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; the committee recorded no opposed votes in the transcript.

Committee members emphasized that tourism funds are restricted by resolution to tourism‑ or economic‑development purposes and that the proposed allocation would not come from the general fund or affect the operating deficit. The motion allocates the funds specifically for recreation/tourism uses and directed staff to include the allocation in budget documents for the full commission.

The committee also discussed a matched $50,000 suggestion for another City (Manchester was discussed along with a second city) to support field maintenance. The committee approved $50,000 to Manchester; staff will prepare documentation for the full commission.