►
Description
City of Charleston Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee 12/3/2021
A
A
A
Amen,
I
too
would
like
to
welcome
the
new
committee
members.
A
Committee,
as
you
know,
makes
grants
to
our
art
community,
which
is
a
very
important
part
of
our
culture
in
the
city.
So
it's
a
it's
a
it's
it's
a
fun
committee.
I
think
you
guys
will
have
have
a
good
time
going
through
the
applications
and
making
recommendations
on
who
we
think
is
is
best
to
to
culturally
enhance
our
community.
A
A
Okay,
we
can
get
you
around.
A
B
We
will
get
there
in
just
a
second
council
member
okay.
The
first
thing
we're
gonna
do
is
review
the
agenda.
C
B
Okay,
so
councilmember
gregory,
I
will
let
you
start
with
the
moment
of
silence
and
then
I'll
take
over
after
that.
B
Sorry,
all
right,
so
I
think
everybody
probably
has
figured
out
that
council
member
gregory
is
the
chairman
of
this
committee.
B
We
have
some
new
members
this
year,
so
I'll,
let
each
of
you
and
maybe
we'll
go
in
order
of
how
your
name
is
listed
on
the
slide
there,
and
if
you
will
introduce
yourself
and
maybe
tell
us
just
a
little
about
your
connection
to
the
tourism
industry
or
or
what
your,
what
you
can
add
to
this
committee.
D
Good
afternoon,
I
just
want
to
make
sure
everyone
can
hear
me:
okay,
yes,
perfect
well
good
afternoon.
My
name
is
mamie
bush,
I'm
the
director
of
sales
and
marketing
for
the
hilton
garden
and
charleston
waterfront
in
downtown
charleston.
I
am
a
benia.
I
was
born
and
raised
in
charleston
south
carolina
graduate
of
winthrop
university.
D
I've
been
in
the
hospitality
industry
since
I
was
in
college
believe
it
or
not
so
really
excited
to
be
here.
In
addition,
full
disclosure,
I'm
also
a
member
of
the
charleston
wine
and
food
festival
board.
So
anything
that
comes
up
regarding
that
particular
festival.
I'll
be
recusing
myself
from,
but
I
just
am
really
glad
to
be
here
and
excited
about
the
opportunity
and
look
forward
to
working
with
everyone.
C
Hi
am
I
on
this
is
edward
condon,
you're,
right,
okay?
I
am
currently
owner
of
the
triangle
charm
bar
in
west
ashley,
previous
to
that
I
had
restaurants
in
downtown
charleston
for
36
years,
everything
from
aw
shocks
to
tommy,
condons,
to
bocce's
and
currently,
ironically,
right
now,
I'm
in
richmond
virginia
at
my
restaurant
in
richmond
doing
the
zoom
meeting
I've
been
a
past
chairman
of
the
cbb
and
the
hey.
C
C
C
My
past
career
has
been
sort
of
all
over
the
map.
I
worked
for
a
retired
former
united
states
senator
fritz
hollings
and
helped
with
a
lot
of
his
local
grants
in
the
arts
arena
for
the
charleston
area
and
then
most
recently,
I'm
a
financial
and
budget
analysis
consultant
for
buzan
hamilton
here
in
charleston.
C
Hi
everybody,
my
name
is
casey
lavin.
I
am
I've
lived
in
charleston
for
a
dozen
years,
moved
away
and
then
came
back
for
what
is
the
last
time
I'll
ever
move
away
from
the
city,
but
glad
to
be
here
my
role
as
a
president
of
bmoc
hospitality.
So
we
we
are
a
hospitality
company.
We
just
bought
the
charleston
place
hotel
and
we
just
bought
another
hotel
down
in
the
water.
That's
under
construction
called
the
cooper.
C
B
B
Paul
okay,
so
we
do
have
a
quorum,
so
we're
okay
to
proceed.
So
I
will
go
on
with
the
slideshow.
Then
thank
you
all
for
introducing
yourselves
and
for
the
new
members
welcome
to
the
committee,
and
we
will
talk
a
little
bit
about
your
duties
and
all
that
a
little
bit
later
in
this
meeting.
But
we're
going
to
move
on
with
our
our
major
business
that
we're
here
to,
but
first
we
have
to
introduce
us.
B
So
we
have
amy
wharton,
who
is
our
chief
financial
officer
for
the
city,
amy
you're
there
right.
B
I'm
kathy
mercer,
I'm
the
budget
director
and
I'm
also
for
many
many
years,
have
been
the
accommodations
tax
accountant.
So
I
guess
for
lack
of
a
better
word.
I
am
the
resident
expert
on
accommodations
tax
for
the
city
at
least,
probably
not
for
anybody
else,
but
for
us
and
cherry
anne.
Are
you
with
us?
Yes,
I'm
here.
Thank
you,
cherry
ann
caton
is
our
grants,
compliance
manager
and
she
helps
out
with
the
the
accommodations
tax
grant
process
that
we
have
generally
have
every
year.
B
We
have
in
the
past
couple
of
years,
but
we'll
talk
about
that
in
a
minute
and
we
may
have
some
other
people
who
have
joined
us.
Matt
frolic,
our
deputy
chief
financial
officer,
may
be
here
he's
in
another
meeting:
okay
andrew
jones
who's.
My
deputy
budget
director
was
going
to
just
sit
in
and
get
a
feel
for
how
this
committee
runs
today
and
then
rick
giroud,
the
senior
adviser
to
the
mayor
rick.
Are
you
here
commuted.
B
Okay,
well,
we'll
keep
going
with
the
slideshow.
The
first
thing
we
normally
talk
about
is
a
revenue
projections
and
how
that
affects
what
we
can
budget
so
just
to
give
y'all
some
history
here
in
2019,
the
revenue
that
we
received
was
7.7
million
dollars
in
2020.
B
The
total
we
received
is
4.4.
Now
this
revenue
is
received
directly
from
the
state.
The
state
collects
the
accommodations
tax
money
from
the
hotels
and
does
a
little
magic
with
it.
They
keep
a
little
bit
for
some
functions
at
the
state
level,
which
is
supporting
prt
and
some
other
organizations
that
help
promote
tourism,
and
then
they
divide
out
the
revenue
so
that
every
county
in
the
state
gets
at
least
a
minimum
of
fifty
thousand
dollars.
B
So
that
means
that
the
larger
counties
such
as
us
in
ore
county-
and
I
think
richland
county
sometimes
have
to
donate
some
of
the
revenue
that
we
would
be
accrued
to
us
to
make
sure
that
these
other
counties
get
at
least
that
50
000..
B
So
that
is,
that
is
what
the
state
does
at
their
level.
You
know
before
we
ever
get
the
money
and
they
pay
us
on
a
quarterly
basis,
so
the
first
payment
we
received
in
2020
was
actually
for
december
2019
through
february
2020,
so
it
was
actually
prior
to
the
pandemic,
so
that
was
a
normal
amount
of
revenue
received
and
then,
after
everything
just
plummeted,
and
so
the
total
we
got
was
4.4.
So
without
that
first
quarter
that
was
probably
pretty
normal.
B
We
feel
like
we
would
have
been
closer
to
three
and
a
half
million
dollars,
so
that,
in
turn
is
what
led
us
to
budget
2021
at
3.6
million
dollars.
We
were
hoping
it
would
pick
back
up,
but
obviously
this
time
last
year
when
we
were
working
on
the
2021
budget,
we
really
did
not
know,
as
as
y'all
can
probably
understand
what
what
things,
what
of
the
future
would
bring.
B
So
when
we
were
working
on
the
2021
amended
budget,
which
we
do
you
know,
we
amend
the
budget
every
year,
pretty
much
to
chew
up
the
amount
of
revenue
we've
actually
received
or
expect
to
receive
and
any
expenditures
that
came
up
during
the
year
that
were
not
included
in
the
original
budget.
So
when
we
started
working
on
the
2021
amended
budget,
we
had
received
two
quarters
of
revenue
from
the
state
at
that
time,
which
totaled
3.855
million
dollars.
B
So
that's
how
we
ended
up
with
our
projection
for
2021
amended
revenue
as
you'll
see
at
the
bottom
bullet
of
6.59
million
dollars.
Now
we
received
the
third
quarter
payment
this
week.
It
was
about
a
month
later
than
the
state
normally
sends
to
us,
or
we
would
have
had
time
to
update
the
budget
to
reflect
that,
but
we
just
got
it
this
week
it
was
higher
than
we
expected,
so
our
total
to
date
for
three
quarters
this
year
is
six
almost
6.2
million
dollars.
B
We
still
have
one
quarter
remaining
to
be
received,
and
that
will
be
hopefully
we'll
get
it
in
late
january,
it's
for
the
last
quarter
of
the
year.
So
that
means
that
since
we
started
out
with
a
budget
of
3.6
million
dollars,
we
will
have
some
leftover
funding
and
we
will
discuss
that
later.
E
Hey
kathy,
can
I
just
interrupt
for
one
second
sure,
so,
just
as
a
point
of
reference,
we've
been
kind
of
watching
the
revenues
to
see
how
much
growth
we've
lost
over
time,
and
so
when
we
before
we
got
this
latest
check,
we
were
for
accommodations
tax.
We
were
about
at
our
2000
numbers.
Is
that
right
kathy?
Was
it
yeah?
So
we
were
back
in
our
2016
numbers,
just
as
a
point
of
reference
for
hospitality,
we
were
back
around
2019.
E
So
that's
why
we
were
being
so
conservative
with
our
budgeting
just
because
of
the
loss
of
growth
over
time,
but
it
seems
to
be
picking
back
up
now
so
a
little
bit
better
than
we
anticipate
it.
So
anyway,
just
wanted.
B
There
right
so,
I
think,
as
we
go
to
the
next
slide.
If
you'll
look
at
that
2019
number
again,
the
7.7
million
that
we
received,
you
will
see
that
on
the
next
slide.
We
are
projecting
that
for
2022,
we'll
get
a
lot
closer
to
that.
So
when
we
did
the
2022
revenue
projection,
that
was
based
on
those
first
two
quarters
of
2021,
so
that
led
us
to
budgeting
6.92
million
dollars.
B
That
budget
will
be
going
to
council
next
week,
pending
approval
of
this
committee.
Today
and
again,
it
was
based
on
the
first
two
quarters,
which
I
see
now.
It
says
that
twice,
but
that's
okay
and
we
just
since
we
just
received
that
third
quarter
check
taking
that
into
account.
B
We
expect
that
our
revenue
for
2022
will
be
closer
to
eight
million
dollars,
but
we're
going
to
leave
the
budget
for
2022
as
it
is
now,
because
if,
if
y'all
read
the
state
law
and
studied
the
information
that
we've
given,
you
you'll
remember
that
five
percent
of
this
revenue
goes
into
the
general
fund.
B
So
that's
why
we're
leaving
it,
as
is
because
the
general
fund
budget
has
been
completed,
and
we
don't
want
to
to
change
that
right
now
and
so
we'll
talk
about
maybe
amending
the
budget
later,
but
we
have
recommendations
on
how
we
will
use
these
additional
funds
on
the
next
slide.
B
So
here
we
go
so
due
to
the
revenue
decline.
We
didn't
that
we
experienced
in
2020.
We
did
not
do
a
grant
application
process
for
2021..
Normally
we
open
up
an
application
process
during
the
summer
where
arts
related
and
tourism-related
non-profits
can
apply
for
funding.
B
We
have
other
obligations,
as
you
see,
on
the
as
you'll
see
on
the
budget
that
we're
going
to
show
you
in
a
minute.
So.
E
Kathy
who's
going
to
interrupt
again,
I'm
sorry!
So
normally
we
like
in
2020,
we
would
do
the
grant
process
in
july
with
them
being
due
towards
the
end
of
august
so
for
the
2021
year.
So
we're
right
in
the
midst
of
the
pandemic
at
that
point
in
time,
and
that's
why
we
did
not
do
any
grant
process
at
all
for
2021
and
we
are
still
watching
how
our
accommodations
tax
monies
were
coming
in
and
decided
we
would.
We
would
do
a
grant
application
process
later
if
it
was
looking
like
we
were
coming
back.
E
B
You
know
the
law
requires
us
to
give
30
percent
of
our
funds
to
our
designated
tourism
promotion
agency,
which
is
the
convention
and
visitors
bureau
and
then
the
five
percent
to
the
general
fund,
and
then
we
have
some
bond
payments
that
we
are
paying
so
those
other
obligations
we
felt
did
not
leave
enough
funding
to
award
grants
at
with
the
information
we
had
at
the
time.
B
So
now
we
are
proposing,
since
we,
our
revenues
are
coming
in
much
stronger
than
we
anticipated
yay
that
we
open
up
the
application
process
in
early
january
of
2022
to
use
the
funding
that
we
anticipate.
We
will
have
left
over
from
2021
and
also
some
of
the
anticipated
leftover
funding.
We
should
have
in
2022.
B
B
The
staff
will,
we,
you
know,
review
those
applications
and
read
them
and
make
sure
they're
eligible,
but
the
committee
receives
copies
of
all
of
them,
and
you
know
we
ask
that
you
review
them
too,
and
then
we
would
meet
probably
in
march
of
2022
to
make
recommendations
on
grant
awards
for
those
based
on
those
applications
that
we
would
receive,
and
that
would
require
us
to
amend
the
2022
budget
at
that
time
to
include
both
the
grant
awards
and
also
any
additional
revenue,
as
we
were
talking
about
on
the
previous
slide.
B
B
I
had
a
list
of
them
here:
the
aquarium,
the
large
festival,
seaweed
wine
and
food
stiletto,
plus
a
lot
of
the
other,
smaller
arts
groups
and
non-profits
that
just
provide
the
culture
in
charleston
that
everybody
comes
to
see
and
to
visit.
That's
what
draws
everybody
here.
So
that's
why
we
are
supporting
them,
because
that
in
turn
promotes
tourism,
which
is
what
the
law
wants
us
to
do.
The
state
law
requires
that
we
do
with
this.
This
funding.
B
B
Now
we're
estimating
it
to
be
closer
to
6.590,
at
least
that's
what
we're
amending
the
budget
to
at
this
point
and
you'll
see
that
that
also
creates
a
change
in
the
30
that
goes
to
the
convention
and
visitors,
bureau
and
the
5
that
goes
to
the
general
fund
and
then
the
rest
of
the
funds
are
used
for
debt
service
for
the
construction
of
the
international
african
american
museum
and
also
a
kids
art
museum,
an
aquarium
bond.
B
We
did
some
renovation,
we
provided
some
money
for
them
to
do
renovations
of
those
facilities
a
few
years
ago
and
that's
the
debt
payment
for
it,
and
we
also
provide
support
to
our
own
festivals,
piccolo,
moja,
charleston
farmers,
market
christmas
in
charleston,
et
cetera
through
our
office
of
cultural
affairs.
B
The
dash
shuttle
that
carter
runs
that
is
free
in
the
downtown
area,
is
also
supported
by
funding
from
this
accommodations
tax.
Because
in
order
to
make
that
shuttle
free
and
available
for
visitors,
then
we
had
to
provide
funding
to
carter.
To
cover
the
fare
box
loss
that
they
would
suffer
from
making
it
free,
so
that
leaves
potentially
1.9
million
dollars,
but
with
the
additional
revenue
we
expect
it'll
be
a
higher
number
than
that.
That
would
be
available
for
those
arts
and
parts
grants
and
aid.
B
C
So
kathy,
the
idea
would
be
that
with
the
two
million
dollars
or
a
million
and
a
half
that
you're
anticipating,
we
would
amend
the
budget
to
it
was
eight
million.
Still.
The
35
goes
back
to
the
cdb
and
general
fund,
leaving
the
balance
of
whatever
it
is
800
grand
that
would
go
to
the
surplus
down
below.
So
basically,
we
would
have
two
point
something
2.7
million.
C
C
B
B
So
we
get
some
interest
income
that
has
to
be
included,
and
then
we
have
the
same
basic
expenditures
that
we
had
for
2021..
B
We
have
the
30
to
the
cbd
5
to
the
general
fund
and
then
the
debt
service
payments.
We
talked
about
a
minute
ago.
The
cultural
festival
fund,
our
festivals,
that
we
put
on
as
a
city
and
then
the
dash
shuttle.
So
that
would
use
up
all
but
about
two
million
dollars
of
that
money.
And
then
we
will
have
some
additional
revenue.
Also.
E
B
B
The
final
payment
sometime
in
january
for
2021,
and
then
we
will
use
part
of
this
leftover
money
in
2020
to
from
2022
to
also
fund
those
grants.
I
don't
think
we
want
to
go
with
all
of
it
at
the
very
beginning
of
the
year.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
something
doesn't
happen
to
affect
the
revenues
you
know
further
into
the
year.
A
A
D
I
want
to,
if
I
may,
I
want
to
make
sure
I'm
understanding
the
timeline
correctly.
We've
kind
of
bounced
around
that
a
little
bit,
so
I'm
just
trying
to
make
sure
I
grasp
that
specifically,
so
we
just
approved
for
the
what
we
what's
left
over
for
2021.
D
Yes,
okay,
now,
when
we're
talking
about
2022,
you
had
said
that
there
would
be
funds
from
2021
left
over
that
we
would
have
in
2022
I'm
just
trying
to
make
sure
I'm
understanding
that
the
available
potential
for
arts
grants
and
aid-
I
see
what
you
provided
us
is
1.9
million
dollars.
Essentially
so
is,
and
we
know
that
there's
going
to
be
possibly
more
added
to
that,
because
we
know
that
everything
hasn't
come
in
yet
and
my
understanding
correctly
so
far,
yeah.
E
Well,
let
me
let
me
go
back
a
little
bit
because
I
think
it
got
that
did
get
confused
a
little
bit.
So
what
we
were
saying
about
amending
is
because
now
that
we
have
the
extra
information
that
we
didn't
have
when
we
put
the
2022
budget
together
that
when
we
come
back
to
amend
the
2022
budget
for
for
the
applicants,
that
we
would
amend
the
dollar
amount
of
revenue,
so
it's
more
the
2022
budget
that
we
were
talking
about
in
terms
of
amending,
not
2021..
E
D
E
D
A
Okay,
maybe
it's
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
any
further
discussion.
B
B
Maybe
I
think
this
will
make
you
feel
better
that
we
would
go
over
the
state
law
with
you
and
explain
our
process
and
the
order
that
things
happen
in
and
all
that
and
give
you
a
chance
to
ask
a
lot
of
questions
so
since
we
know
that
we're
going
to
be
announcing
the
budget,
if
we
have
a
grant
process
going
on
this,
you
know
from
january
to
say
march
or
so
it
usually
takes
a
few
months
to
get
those
applications
in
and
reviewed
and
everything.
B
Then
we
will
have
an
orientation
session
for
y'all,
probably
in
february
or
march,
so
that
is
prior
to
reviewing
the
application.
So
you'll
understand
a
little
bit
more
about
what's
going
on
and
and
then
and
make
a
grand
award
recommendations
to
the
city.
B
Now
everything
the
the
this
committee
is
an
advisory
committee,
so
they
make
recommendations
to
the
city,
and
then
we
hope
for
2023
that
we
will
return
to
our
normal
schedule,
which
means
that
applications
for
the
2023
year
budget
year
would
be
due
actually
in
july
or
august
of
2022,
and
I
could
have
put
the
year
on
there
and
it
probably
would
have
made
more
sense.
But
anyway.
B
A
Does
any
of
the
new
members
have
any
questions?
I
think
that
things
will
be
much
better
once
you
get
the
orientation.
This
is
sort
of
hitting
you
dry,
but
we'll
compensate
for
that.
Once
you
get
your
orientation,
I
think
you'll
feel
a
bit
more
comfortable
with
the
entire
process.