CRANBERRY TWP — The Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau wants to completely change its membership structure, and it also might soon allow businesses in neighboring counties as members.

The overhaul, which will require a bylaw change that would have to be approved by the bureau’s 372 members, would include a $20 membership rate increase every two years for members, although the board of directors would revisit that fee increase in five years.

The potential change to allow out-of-county members would not include lodging and hotel businesses in other counties because revenues from those businesses would not come back to the county in the form of bed tax.

Tourism President Jack Cohen said at the bureau meeting Thursday morning that the membership structure only allows in-county businesses. Any for-profit business pays $165 annually while nonprofit organizations pay $110.

If the bylaw changes are approved, those rates would increase $20 every two years, although that fee structure could change after the board revisits the issue in five years.

The bureau, for the first time, also would allow tourism-related businesses in neighboring counties to join for $1,000 annually. Those businesses would be marketed and promoted by the bureau but would not have voting rights.

County lines are always being crossed, Cohen said, and almost all of the bureau’s revenue in the form of bed taxes comes from out-of-county residents.

“Why wouldn’t we accept these folks as members?” Cohen asked. “It makes sense to.”

In addition, the bureau would invite large corporations in the county such as the Westinghouse Electric Co. and AK Steel to join as a “contributing corporation.”

Those corporations would pay either $500 or $1,000 annually, with the rate based on customizable benefits. Those entities would not receive voting rights but would pay for the chance to partner with the bureau.

The same is true for large corporations in neighboring counties, entities like the Pittsburgh sports teams and the Rivers Casino. Those businesses would have to pay either $1,000 or $2,000 annually to be associated with the tourism bureau, again with the rate fluctuating according to benefits.

Cohen said the bureau also wants to add a supporting member category that would include in-county townships and boroughs that want to be associated with the tourism bureau but are not tourism-related entities.

Those municipalities would not receive voting rights but would be able to join the bureau for $165 annually, the same rate charged to in-county businesses.

The idea to change the agency’s by-laws didn’t come quickly, according to board Chairman Rodney Schaffer. A committee for several months analyzed other tourism agencies and their structures.

It’s a topic that’s been discussed in the tourism bureau for several years, and the agency’s leadership thought it was finally time to resolve the out-of-county issue.

“Jack wants to focus more on the customer experience than a political experience,” Schaffer said about extending membership across county lines.

Cohen said the bylaw change is necessary for the bureau to grow alongside the growing economy.

Everything costs more these days, and it’s costing the tourism agency more each year to promote and market businesses in the way it wants to.

“This puts us in a position to grow,” Cohen said about the fee restructuring, adding that the bureau last increased membership dues in 2011. “We need a little more skin in the game from everyone.”

The board approved the motion by a unanimous vote, and it will now be sent to the bureau’s 372 members for a vote.

Each member has 30 days to vote, and the results of the vote will be unveiled at the agency’s meeting in January.