Accommodations Tax recommendations amended
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
The Darlington County Accommodations Tax Committee met on Monday, April 18 to reconsider funding recommendations for the 2016/17 fiscal year. Due to an apparent lost application from Kim Cranford, representing the Hartsville Community Center Building Commission / Center Theater, the committee was directed by Darlington County Council to reconvene and consider Cranford’s request of $9,595.50 in funding.
The Accommodations Tax 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 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 accommodations tax monies to applicants who can demonstrably increase local tourism.
Upon consideration, the committee recommended $5,000 for the Center Theater, which meant they had to review their previous recommendations for other applicants and reduce their funding accordingly.
This year, Darlington County received 20 applications for funding, totaling $122,055.00 in requests.
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. The committee recommended $4,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $4,700.
Community Rice Festival / New Vision Community Development Corp.: requesting $8,580; the committee recommended a $2,100 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $3,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $3,100.
Darlington Car Hauler Parade & Racefest on The Square / Florence CVB: requesting $5,000; the committee recommended a $3,500 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $2,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $2,300.
Eastern SC Heritage Region, Darlington Focus / Florence CVB: requesting $5,000; the committee recommended a $3,000 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $1,000 in funding this year. No changes were made.
Freedom Fest / Darlington Chamber of Commerce: requesting $10,000; the committee recommended a $2,300 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $4,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $4,300.
Hartsville Genealogical Library / Old Darlington District Chapter SC Genealogical Society: requesting $3,000; the committee recommended a $1,600 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $1,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $1,400.
Hartsville Tourism / Hartsville Community Development Foundation: requesting $9,975; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year. The committee recommended $4,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $4,500.
Lamar Egg Scramble Jamboree: requesting $5,000; the committee recommended a $3,000 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $3,000 in funding this year. No changes were made.
Market on The Square / Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association: requesting $2,500; the committee recommended a $900 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $1,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $1,500.
Memorial & Veterans Day Programs / American Legion Post #13: requesting $3,500; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year. The committee recommended $3,000 in funding this year. No changes were made.
Players Championship / SC Junior Golf Foundation: requesting $6,500; the committee recommended a $7,500 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $4,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $4,500.
Renofest / Black Creek Arts Council: requesting $15,000; the committee recommended a $10,400 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $11,000 in funding this year.
Society Hill Catfish Festival: requesting $3,000; the committee recommended a $3,000 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $3,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $11,400.
SC Sweet Potato Festival / Pilot Club of Darlington: requesting $4,000; the committee recommended a $3,200 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $3,000 in funding this year. No changes were made.
Southern Bluegrass Association of SC: requesting $10,000; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year. The committee recommended $1,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $1,100.
Taste of Darlington / Darlington Downtown Revitalization Association: requesting $2,500; the committee recommended a $2,000 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $1,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $1,700.
The Total Package / Darlington County Cultural Realism Complex: requesting $3,500; the committee recommended a $3,700 disbursement last year. The committee recommended $2,000 in funding this year. No changes were made.
Williamson Park 5K Run/Walk / City of Darlington: requesting $5,000; this organization did not apply for A-Tax funding last year. The committee recommended $1,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $1,200.
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. The committee recommended $3,000 in funding this year, reduced from an original recommendation of $3,300.
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 recommendations of the Accommodations Tax Committee will be forwarded to Darlington County Council for review and approval at their May 2 meeting, scheduled for 6 pm in the Courthouse Annex located at 1625 Harry Byrd Hwy in Darlington.
