By NICOLE CARTRETTE
When the Columbus County Tourism Board approved a 5 percent pay increase for its sole employee and director Jenny Long, commissioners cut the raise back to 3 percent, like that given to county workers.
“We proceeded under the assumption she is a county employee,” Commission Chairman Kip Godwin said. He indicated giving Long a bigger raise was unfair to other county employees.
The controversy has led the tourism board and county to seek an agreement to clarify Long’s job status and the authority the county may or may not have over Travel and Tourism expenditures. The first meeting is set for Tuesday morning, Godwin said.
Budget debate
County commissioners made adjustments to the tourism budget that is funded solely from a 3-percent occupancy tax to hotels.
Godwin indicated the tourism budget had been adjusted back to the board’s original proposal. Long’s salary is the only exception, he said.
The $592 difference between the board’s approved $36,156 director’s salary and the county’s $35,564 salary was one cut. A $500 reduction in travel expenses was another.
The measure was unprecedented.
County Attorney Steve Fowler said at a June 30 budget hearing that tourism money belongs to the tourism board. Essentially the county is to collect it and pass it on, he said.
Fowler indicated the bill that established the tax indicates that the county may impose a fee, up to 7 percent, for administration. The county has never charged a fee, however.
“We need to resolve the issue as to whether or not the board has the authority to determine their own budget,” Fowler told commissioners.
Special legislation introduced by Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. in 1995 established the occupancy tax levy and provides that “the Board shall expend the net proceeds of the tax.”
“Columbus County shall, on a quarterly basis, remit the net proceeds of the occupancy tax to the Columbus County Tourism Board,” the legislation reads.
“We can’t tell them how to spend it (the tax revenue),” said Commissioner David Dutton.
“We need to take them out of our budget,” Commissioner Bill Memory said.
Long formerly worked with the Economic Development Commission and has been considered a county employee, along with previous tourism directors.
As a county employee, Long and any directors who may come after her are entitled to county benefits such as health insurance and retirement.
“Be careful what you ask for,” Memory said, indicating if a person is not a county employee they do not get county benefits.
Contract requested
Commissioner Lynwood Norris made a motion to authorize Fowler to begin negotiating a contract of clarification. The motion was seconded by Dutton and approved by the commissioners.
“A lot is still yet to be determined,”Godwin said.
He indicated the county needs to play a supportive role and would not likely ask for any administrative fees.
“We think Jennifer [Long] is doing a great job,” Godwin indicated. He added that a positive relationship is expected to continue between the commissioners and the department.
“For us to provide some fiscal management should be our contribution to the effort,” Godwin added.
Board duties
The board promotes tourism throughout the county. It has provided extra funding to festivals, such as the N.C. Pecan Festival and N.C. Strawberry Festival. It publishes and distributes tourism brochures.
This year, the director assisted in coordinating balloon festivities at the Strawberry Festival, requesting grant monies for tourism initiatives and purchasing welcome signs to be placed on major highways entering the county as part of her job.
Each commissioner appoints a board member. In addition, the Committee of 100, Economic Development Commission, Southeastern Community College, and accommodation industry each appoints a member.
Board members receive no compensation for their services under the board’s by-laws.
The tourism board is expected to collect $90,000 in grants and occupancy tax revenue for fiscal 2006-2007, Long said. Last year’s revenue totaled more than $73,000.