The Summit County Council is searching for residents to fill multiple vacancies on local advisory committees responsible for overseeing the distribution of tax funds for tourism, culture, and recreation. The recruitment efforts include a search for a new member for the Restaurant Tax Advisory Committee and six positions for the Recreation Arts & May Parks Advisory Committee.
Restaurant Tax Committee Vacancy Details
In a notice posted July 20, 2026, Summit County announced it is seeking one individual to fill a vacancy on the Summit County Restaurant Tax Advisory Committee. The council specifically noted that they are looking for one member residing within the boundaries of the North Summit School District.
To qualify for the Restaurant Tax Advisory Committee position, applicants must be residents of Summit County. Furthermore, candidates must be employed by businesses that pay the restaurant tax or hold employment within a tourism-related industry, such as museums, convention centers, cultural institutions, or the recreational and convention sectors within the county.
Role of Restaurant Tax Funds
The primary mission of the Restaurant Tax Advisory Committee is to investigate, advise, and provide recommendations to the County Council regarding the most effective uses for funds collected through this specific tax. These funds are intended to finance the development, operation, and maintenance of publicly owned and operated facilities related to tourism, recreation, history, culture, and conventions, as well as supporting tourism promotion.
According to the county's July 20 announcement, committee members can expect a total time commitment of approximately 15 hours. The committee's active period is concentrated during the months of March and April. During this timeframe, members are tasked with reviewing and scoring applications using a standard rubric before participating in a two-hour meeting to establish a final funding recommendation.
RAP Tax Committee Openings
Separately, the Summit County Council is also working to fill six vacancies on the Recreation Arts & Parks (RAP) Advisory Committee - Cultural. As stated in a July 13, 2026, announcement, this committee focuses its oversight on botanical and cultural organizations, as well as recreational facilities.
Like the restaurant tax committee, the RAP Tax Cultural Committee is responsible for reviewing applications submitted for consideration of RAP tax monies. The workload and timeline for these roles are nearly identical to the restaurant tax position; members will be active during March and April, spending roughly 15 hours in total to review and score applications via a standard rubric and attend a two-hour final recommendation meeting.
Application Deadlines and Contact Info
For both opportunities, interested residents must submit their applications through the Summit County online volunteer boards form. For those applying to the RAP Tax Cultural Committee, the deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026.
The vacancy for the Restaurant Tax Advisory Committee remains open until filled. The county has directed individuals seeking further information regarding either committee to contact Amy Jones at 435-336-3042.
