ZELIENOPLE — Because hotel room revenue in Butler County is off for July and August, the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau is rethinking its 2009-10 marketing plan.

Jack Cohen, the bureau's executive director, told board members Thursday the county bed tax revenue, on which the bureau relies for funding, is down about 12 percent in the first two months of the new fiscal year.

"That's a total of about a $20,000 loss for us," he said.

Cohen told the board that with the state budget deadlock in Harrisburg and without one expected until possibly December, he doesn't believe the state will release tourism figures until February.

"And even if there is anything for us in there, I wouldn't expect them to release the money until June, so we've got to figure that we will be getting no state money this year," Cohen said.

He said the only place to really rethink this year's budget is in the area of marketing.

Board members agreed with the marketing committee, which met after the board meeting, to starting planning cuts.

"If that's the best place to do it, then let's do it," said board member Larry Berg.

After the board meeting, Cohen said the economy is getting stronger and that later this year, visitors will begin returning in greater numbers to the county.

The G-20 Summit, which will be Sept. 24 to 25 in Pittsburgh, is having a positive impact on hotel reservations in the county already, Cohen said.

"Most of our rooms are already reserved," he said. "I think the year will get better. We've never had a down year, but I think we have to be smart and make adjustments in our budget now, not later when it's a real problem."