Orange County NC Website
13 <br />1 Economic Development, Chapel Hill /Orange County Visitors Bureau and the <br />2 Orange County Arts Commission, Pgs. 120 and 438 (including Non - Departmental <br />3 items, Pgs. 348 and 362) <br />4 <br />5 Tonya Walton began on page 120, and said the Economic Development Division has a <br />6 $32,000 increase due to COLA adjustment and the mid -year FTE addition referenced in the <br />7 following highlights: <br />8 Budget Highlights <br />9 • 2014 -15 Personnel: Cost includes 0.50 FTE increase for Economic Development Coordinator <br />10 position ($23,468). The BOCC approved the position during its January 24, 2014 Regular <br />11 Meeting. <br />12 • Note: The Article 46 Quarter- Center Sales Tax has its own section within the budget <br />13 document, which outlines tax - funded economic development initiatives. <br />14 <br />15 Tonya Walton said there are non - departmental changes as well. She referred to page <br />16 346, and said there is a recommended funding increase of $15,000 to the Friends of North <br />17 Carolina. <br />18 She referred to the Visitors Bureau, beginning on page 438, and said this division has a <br />19 $248,000 increase in the Visitor's Bureau fund budget. She said there are no significant <br />20 changes within the Arts Commission, and the increase in the Visitor's Bureau is due to the <br />21 addition of a new sales manager position, as well as new marketing initiatives. <br />22 She referred to a new revenue change listed on page 440. She said the Town of <br />23 Chapel Hill will not be providing the requested additional $25,000 for 2014 -15, so the bureau is <br />24 requesting an increase of $25,000 in the fund balance appropriation. <br />25 Tonya Walton said the capital request is for carpeting replacement and infrastructure <br />26 improvements to the Visitor's Bureau center. <br />27 Steve Brantley said the new Agricultural related position has been advertised by Human <br />28 Resources, and the best 25 applicants are being reviewed for interviews with a newly formed <br />29 team. <br />30 Commissioner McKee asked if there was any indication as to why Chapel Hill did not <br />31 fund the requested $25,000 increase. <br />32 Laurie Paolicelli said the town is up to $175,000 in funding, and every year staff asks for <br />33 more. She said the request was for $200,000, but the town now has them on a bonus system. <br />34 She is confident that the requested number will be reached, but it is not in the front end of the <br />35 contract. <br />36 Laurie Paolicelli thanked the Board for their support. She said this has been a great <br />37 year for Orange County, and all indications are that the tourism sector is strong. <br />38 Commissioner Rich said there have been discussions on the Visitors Bureau board <br />39 about the possibility of taking the $48,000 per year that is currently being used for rent, and <br />40 using this for marketing. She said the goal is to take this money and use it to double and triple <br />41 what is happening now. <br />42 Anthony Carey, Chair of CHOCVB, said as a hotelier, he has seen ad campaigns do <br />43 wonders. He said the Board sees this rent every month, and he wants to take that expense and <br />44 put it into the marketing fund and return it. He said a study has shown that local residents do <br />45 not know Chapel Hill and UNC. He urged the Board to allow the $48,000 to be put to use to <br />46 bring in returns. <br />47 Commissioner Rich said that a visitor spends an average of $35 for a day visit, but that <br />48 number goes up to $225 if they stay overnight. She said advertising is the key, and this is <br />49 money well spent. <br />50 Commissioner Price asked where the $48,000 goes. <br />