The Butte County Board of Supervisors convened on July 29, 2025, to discuss significant modifications to the Butte County Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID). The meeting featured public comments from local business owners and board members advocating for changes aimed at enhancing tourism and supporting small businesses in the region.

The first speaker, a long-time Airbnb host, expressed strong support for the proposed modifications, emphasizing the importance of equitable participation in tourism marketing. The speaker highlighted that only a small percentage of short-term vacation rentals in Oroville currently contribute to the tourism assessment, which undermines the collective marketing efforts established in 2015. They urged the Board to ensure that all rental properties participate in the fee collection to strengthen the tourism initiative.

Following this, Melissa Shuster, a board member of Explore Butte County, reinforced the need for the TBID modifications. She noted her long-standing involvement in tourism advocacy since 2008 and stressed that the proposed changes would promote fairness among lodging types and generate essential resources for marketing and event development. Shuster pointed out the challenges faced by Butte County in attracting tourists, particularly following natural disasters, and asserted that the modifications would bolster the local economy and support small businesses.

Megan Kurtz, also from the Explore Butte County board, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of tourism as a vital economic driver. She supported the gradual increase in assessments and the alignment of the district's term with the fiscal calendar, describing these as strategic investments that would enhance destination marketing and infrastructure improvements beneficial to both visitors and residents.

The discussions underscored a collective recognition of the need for a robust tourism strategy to revitalize the local economy. The Board of Supervisors is expected to consider the feedback from these public comments as they deliberate on the proposed TBID modifications, which aim to create a more inclusive and effective tourism marketing framework for Butte County.