Ohio Code § 717.20

§ 717.20.

The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may appropriate moneys from its

general fund to be expended by the municipal corporation or by joint agreement with

one or more other political subdivisions or by private, nonprofit organizations for

the public purpose of encouraging economic development of the municipal corporation

or area through promotion of tourism. Semiannual reports on the use of the expenditures shall be made to the legislative

authority by the chief officer implementing the joint agreement, or the chief officer

or board of directors of the private, nonprofit organizations. As used in this section, “ promotion of tourism ” is the encouragement through advertising, educational and informational means, and

public relations, both within the state and outside of it, of travel by persons away

from their homes for pleasure, personal reasons, or other purposes, except to work,

to the municipal corporation, or to the local area. This section shall not be construed to limit any municipal corporation in the exercise

of its powers of local self government under Section 3, Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution , but shall be construed to be a declaration that the promotion of tourism is a proper

public purpose for encouraging economic development.