A-Tax Committee reviews new applicants
Members of the Darlington County Accommodations Tax Committee met March 17 to review applications.
Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
The Darlington County Accommodations Tax Committee met on Thursday, March 17 to decide on funding recommendations for the 2016/17 fiscal year. The committee is responsible for dispersing a $60,000 funding pool to applicants whose venues and events increase local tourism and overnight hotel stays.
The accommodations tax (A-tax) pool comes from the state-mandated two-percent tax on hotel and motel stays, which is collected by the state and channeled back to counties and municipalities. These agencies then distribute A-tax monies to applicants who can demonstrably increase local tourism.
This year, Darlington County received 19 applications for funding, totaling $122,055.00. Applicants included the following organizations and events:
Butler Heritage Week / Butler Heritage Foundation: requesting $15,000; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year.
Community Rice Festival / New Vision Community Development Corp.: requesting $8,580; the committee recommended a $2,100 disbursement last year.
Darlington Car Hauler Parade & Racefest on The Square / Florence CVB: requesting $5,000; the committee recommended a $3,500 disbursement last year.
Eastern SC Heritage Region, Darlington Focus / Florence CVB: requesting $5,000; the committee recommended a $3,000 disbursement last year.
Freedom Fest / Darlington Chamber of Commerce: requesting $10,000; the committee recommended a $2,300 disbursement last year.
Hartsville Genealogical Library / Old Dton Dist Chapter SC Genealogical Soc: requesting $3,000; the committee recommended a $1,600 disbursement last year.
Hartsville Tourism / Hartsville Community Development Foundation: requesting $9,975; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year.
Lamar Egg Scramble Jamboree: requesting $5,000; the committee recommended a $3,000 disbursement last year.
Market on The Square / Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association: requesting $2,500; the committee recommended a $900 disbursement last year.
Memorial & Veterans Day Programs / American Legion Post #13: requesting $3,500; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year.
Players Championship / SC Junior Golf Foundation: requesting $6,500; the committee recommended a $7,500 disbursement last year.
Renofest / Black Creek Arts Council: requesting $15,000; the committee recommended a $10,400 disbursement last year.
Society Hill Catfish Festival: requesting $3,000; the committee recommended a $3,000 disbursement last year.
SC Sweet Potato Festival / Pilot Club of Darlington: requesting $4,000; the committee recommended a $3,200 disbursement last year.
Southern Bluegrass Association of SC: requesting $10,000; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year.
Taste of Darlington / Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association: requesting $2,500; the committee recommended a $2,000 disbursement last year.
The Total Package / Darlington County Cultural Realism Complex: requesting $3,500; the committee recommended a $3,700 disbursement last year.
Williamson Park 5K Run/Walk / City of Darlington: requesting $5,000; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year.
YMCA’s Loop da Ville, Lickety Split, Turkey Trot, Triathlon, Swim Meets / YMCA: requesting $5,000; the committee recommended a $3,200 disbursement last year.
Members of the 2016/17 Darlington County Accommodations Tax Committee include chair Joey Saleeby, vice chair Joyce Wingate, Steve Tinney, Scotty Jeffords, Carol Bishop, Hannah Stanley, and David McFarland.
The members of the Accommodations Tax Committee will meet again March 28 at 6 pm at the Courthouse Annex located at 1625 Harry Byrd Hwy in Darlington. Applicants will be allowed to make a five-minute presentation supporting their funding requests, preferably with data demontrating how their event draws visitors who utilize Darlington County hotels, motels, and inns, thereby paying back into the accommodations tax coffers.
