A-Tax Committee awards funds, tightens rules
em>By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
The Darlington County Accommodations Tax Committee met March 28 to review requests and make funding recommendations for local tourism-related festivals and events.
The committee had $65,000 to divvy up between 15 applicants, and preference was given to those who demonstrated their events attract tourists to the county for overnight stays.
Accommodations Tax revenue is collected from county hotels, motels, inns and bed and breakfast establishments as a 2 percent tax charged to all guests.
Darlington County allocates the first $25,000 in accommodations tax proceeds plus 5 percent of the balance to the General Fund, as authorized by state law, and the balance goes to promote events that draw visitors from over 50 miles away.
Of the 15 applicants, several had no system in place to verify exactly how many out-of-towners their events hosted, while others actively communicate with county hotels or gather home addresses through contests or guest registers.
Committee members made their funding recommendations after reviewing and discussing which applicants followed the state-issued rules, provided clear data and turned in all their paperwork on time.
Funding recommendations for this year are as follows:
American Legion Post #13 / Darlington Veterans Memorial: $3,285 (requested $3,500)
Black Creek Arts Council / Yoga & Healing Arts Fest: $3,214 (requested $5,000)
Butler Heritage Foundation: $6,000 (requested $10,000)
Darlington Chamber of Commerce / Freedom Fest: $3,571 (requested $15,000)
Darlington Downtown Revitalization / Build Up Darlington Website: $2,721 (requested $8,545)
EdVenture Inc. / EdVenture Hartsville Satellite: $2,357 (requested $5,000)
Florence CVB / Racefest on the Square: $785 (requested $3,000)
Hartsville Community Center Building Comm. / Center Theater: $13,857 (requested $33,000)
Lamar Egg Scramble: $4,714 (requested $10,000)
New Vision Community Dev / Annual Community Rice Fest: $3,285 (requested $15,000)
Pilot Club / Sweet Potato Festival: $3,642 (requested $4,000)
S.C. Junior Golf Foundation / Players Championship: $6,785 (requested $8,500)
Society Hill Catfish Festival: $2,642 (requested $3,000)
Southeastern Bluegrass Association: $5,285 (requested $10,000)
YMCA of Upper Pee Dee / Hartsville YMCA: $2,857 (requested $6,000)
After finalizing these numbers, the committee discussed whether applicants should be eligible to receive accommodations tax funding if they fail to submit necessary paperwork in a timely manner. One applicant did not submit paperwork due in September 2018 until last week, and members agreed that in the future such tardiness will eliminate applicants from consideration.
Also, the committee agreed that any event or organization seeking A-tax funding must send a representative to present their request in person. Two events did not send representatives this year, but filed all necessary paperwork.
The Accommodations Tax Committee’s recommendations will be reviewed by Darlington County Council at their May 6 regular meeting, which will take place at 6 p.m. in the Courthouse Annex at 1625 Harry Byrd Highway in Darlington.