Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday issued the first $50,000 of a $500,000 contribution to the Schuylkill County volunteer firefighters' association for a new training facility.

The money will come from the county's general fund, Commissioners' Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said, and be recouped after a newly increased hotel tax goes into effect on July 1."County commissioners made a commitment to the volunteer firefighters here in Schuylkill County," Halcovage said."They have expenses right now. Rather than have them go to a line of credit, we made a commitment that no matter what was done, to make sure that we would fund our part of it," he said.The hotel tax, which commissioners on April 26 increased from 3 percent to 5 percent, is levied on overnight accommodations.The increase, effective July 1, will help fund the county's contribution to a $1.4 million fire training center on Firemens Road just outside Frackville, and boost economic development.The training center is "moving very quickly. They're doing an outstanding job on it," Halcovage said.Commissioners in August pledged up to $500,000 over 10 years for the center.The county visitors' bureau will continue to receive 3 percent of the revenue.The county since 2002 has imposed the tax, which county Finance Director Paul E. Buber said generated $281,419 last year.Also commissioners reminded residents the courthouse will be closed next Tuesdayin observance of Independence Day.