**note** I haven't had time to finish the write up, but I am posting this anyway because people need to see what happened at this meeting...
I'll start the coverage of this meeting off with an announcement that the TDA has been looking for three new members. They've posted info on the town website and have advertised with The Franklin Press and the Macon County News, but, to date, not had one person express interest in serving. So, I've decided to have a whack at it...free of charge to the TDA.
The Franklin Tourism Development Authority is seeking three new board members to replace three who have quit coming to the meetings.
Notice posted on the town website:
Notice is hereby given that the Town of Franklin is now accepting applications for three (3) vacancies on the Tourism Development Authority Board. One (1) vacancy for a business directly involved with the collection of rental property occupancy tax. Two (2) vacancies for a tourist related business involved with the collection of state sales tax. Applications can be picked up at the Town Hall office located at 95 East Main Street, Franklin NC 28734.
Download a PDF of the Application.
And now, the coverage of the meeting. If at all possible, you need to watch the video of the meeting because no amount of write up about what happened can take the place of actually hearing what happened in the meeting:
The Franklin Tourism Development Authority met last night in the town hall. Summer Woodard reported that the TDA collected a room occupancy tax of $4,746.80 in December 2012. Net collections for the year (it was not made clear whether this was calendar or fiscal year) were $166,089.89 and the TDA had a reserve fund of $93,520.38. She reported that disbursements (July 1 - Jan 31) were $72,569.51 out of the $100,000 budget set by the town board and that total commitments by the board (as of the beginning of the meeting) were $16,839.32. She said that the TDA Board has spent (including commitments) $89,408.33 of the $100,000 budget set by the town board. That leaves $10,591.17 left in the TDA budget for the remainder of the fiscal year...minus any commitments they make at tonight's meeting.
Summer Woodard advised the board to stop spending money until their current commitments have been paid. She does not think it is wise to start the next fiscal with unpaid commitments. She that part of their problem was the upfront commitment to spend $50,000 for advertising with Comcast.
Here is a transcribed copy of the financial report (which was not available in an electronic format, just handouts at the meeting):
Room Occupancy Tax Report
01/31/2013
| 2011-2012 Reserve | $106,757.06 |
| 7/31/2012 Room Tax | $12,199.87 |
| 8/31/2012 Room Tax | $10,574.60 |
| 9/30/2012 Room Tax | $11,900.99 |
| 10/31/2012 Room Tax | $13,809.73 |
| 11/30/2012 Room Tax | $6,100.84 |
| 12/31/2012 Room Tax | $4,746.80 |
| 1/31/2012 Room Tax | $0.00 |
| 2/28/2012 Room Tax | $0.00 |
| 3/31/2012 Room Tax | $0.00 |
| 4/30/2012 Room Tax | $0.00 |
| 5/31/2012 Room Tax | $0.00 |
| 6/30/2012 Room Tax | $0.00 |
| Net Collections | $166,089.89 |
Less a reserve of $93,520.38
Less Disbursements:
| Vendor | Amount in Dollars |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 1,300.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 520.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 1,300.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 520.00 |
| Michael M Rogers | 1,050.00 |
| Tony Angel Media | 800.00 |
| Tony Angel Media | 857.15 |
| Comcast Spotlight | 4,857.17 |
| Michael M Rogers | 600.00 |
| Franklin Main Street Program | 2,000.00 |
| Associated Posters, Inc | 124.15 |
| Comcast Spotlight | 4,688.32 |
| Associated Posters, Inc | 124.15 |
| Associated Posters, Inc | 124.15 |
| Tony Angel Media | 827.35 |
| Tony Angel Media | 800.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 520.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 1,300.00 |
| The Franklin Press | 1,666.45 |
| Social Axe | 3,511.64 |
| Social Axe | 392.00 |
| Michael M Rogers | 750.00 |
| WFSC 1050 AM | 333.55 |
| Smoky Mountain Center | 10,000.00 |
| Tony Angel Media | 800.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 1,300.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 520.00 |
| Smoky Mountain News | 85.00 |
| The Franklin Press | 288.00 |
| Macon County News | 99.90 |
| Social Axe | 1,735.84 |
| Michael M Rogers | 750.00 |
| Comcast Spotlight | 4,952.28 |
| Tony Angel Media | 873.94 |
| Tony Angel Media | 800.00 |
| Associated Posters, Inc | 124.15 |
| Comcast Spotlight | 4,857.17 |
| Tony Angel Media | 857.15 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 1,300.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 520.00 |
| Tony Angel Media | 800.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 1,300.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 520.00 |
| Smoky Mountain Theatre | 5,000.00 |
| Tony Angel Media | 800.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 520.00 |
| Allison Outdoor Advertising | 1,300.00 |
| Franklin Main Street Program | 3,500.00 |
| Total Disbursements | 72,569.51 |
Remaining Balance: $0.00
Less Commitments:
| Vendor | Amount in Dollars |
| Comcast - Up to $50,000.00 | 2,804.40 |
| Billboards - $1,820.00 per month | 9,100.00 |
Comcast - January Vote | 2,934.92 |
| Trail Days | 2,000.00 |
| Total Commitments | 16,839.32 |
And here is a table making comparisons from month to month for the first six months of the fiscal year over the course of the last several years.
Franklin TDA Collections Comparison Chart (click image to see full size)
The board spent a considerable amount of time on the issue of not having money. Mike Grubermann said that the TDA could not spend funds from their reserve (currently at $93,520.38) without a vote from the Town Board of Aldermen. John Henning, the Town Attorney, was of the opinion that the reserve was the TDA's money to do with it what they wanted. Grubermann disagreed and Candy Pressley, the TDA Chairman, said that she had been told they couldn't spend the money without permission of the board as well.
I missed a good part of the discussion because I could not hear what some of the TDA members were saying, so watch the video (because the mic on the camera is better than my ears) to follow what each member said.
I think they passed a motion to table approving granting new funding requests until after their strategic marketing plan meeting in March.
Nikki Pons Corbin and Scottie Corbin, of the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, made a presentation and request for $50,000 to assist with advertising. The TDA tabled the request.
The Taste of Scotland asked for $2,500 in funding and space on two billboards. The TDA approved the request for two billboards and tabled the request for funds strategic marketing plan meeting takes place.
The TDA went back and forth on the planned strategic marketing plan scheduled for March 20th for several minutes.
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