By Stan Welch
Anderson County Council continued to chew the cud that is the proposed hospitality tax during their regular meeting Tuesday night. District Two Councilwoman Gracie Floyd held the floor for twenty five minutes, as she both supported and challenged the tax.
During the public comment portion of the agenda, Williamston Town Councilman Rockey Burgess spoke about the issue, stating that the town’s hospitality tax has freed up general fund monies to be used in other ways. “I have no doubt that without our hospitality tax, at this point in time, we would have to increase our tax millage in order to maintain our current level of citizen service.”
Burgess went on to say that it is a travesty that the town has to provide recreational services for three towns and the surrounding county areas. “We get a paltry five thousand dollars from the county each year, towards a two hundred thousand dollar recreation budget.”
He also expressed his concern that the ordinance, which allows for a review of a business’s records to confirm compliance, “could be construed as establishing a county wide business license. And that would be a very bad way to go, a very bad mistake.”
Additional comments by Burgess were curtailed by the Council’s limit of three minutes per speaker.
Chris Sullivan was allotted ten minutes on the agenda to address the council on county soccer needs, which essentially focused on the perceived benefits of the hospitality tax.
His presentation was followed by Floyd, who brought Mr. Joe Drennin to the microphone to explain the results of a study done by a committee he chaired a decade ago. The results of that study were designed to be used in creating a vision or plan for various aspects of life in Anderson, including recreation.
Drennin pointed out that Anderson County has twenty four thousand children, twenty eight thousand special needs adults, and twenty six thousand senior citizens, all of whom could access programs and facilities funded by such a tax.
He also expounded the economic development advantages that a hospitality tax provides, and reiterated that every town in the county has its own hospitality tax.
He touted those towns for being both frugal and progressive in their programming and use of the funds. He opposed the general obligation bond aspect of the tax, which puts him in line with District Seven Councilwoman Cindy Wilson, who also favors a pay as you go method.
As written now, the ordinance would provide for issuing a $20 million general obligation bond, to be repaid from the estimated $2 million a year generated by the tax.
Councilman Ken Waters, sponsor of the proposal, favors the bond, saying that it will allow the construction and improvements to begin immediately.
Following Floyd’s extensive presentation, Councilman Francis Crowder gave a slightly briefer report on the public input on the tax received in a series of public meetings across the county.
The Council also gave final approval to an amended animal ordinance, and adopted the majority of the comprehensive land use plan.
