Agenda - 09-01-2015 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 1 Economic recovery has not reached most of the families we serve and therefore affect 2 collection rates. Our collections ($5,255,000) provide acutely needed income to Orange County 3 families 4 Revenue Increases: Federal Support Enforcement ($45,000); IV-D Refunds ($3,075) 5 6 Community Relations & Tourism, Pg. 101 7 8 Christal Sandifer reviewed the following information: 9 Budget Highlights 10 • The FY15-16 Manager's Recommended Budget includes: 11 e Occupancy Tax Rates and Revenue: Occupancy Tax revenues continue to increase due to 12 strong travel economy. In FY14-15, Orange County's 3% Occupancy Tax collections have 13 increased an average of 14% each month; year-end revenues are expected to exceed the 14 original budget by 10% ($107,940). 15 e Fund Balance Appropriation: Available fund balance totals $354,000. In FY15-16, the 16 Visitors Bureau will appropriate $90,000 from fund balance, a decrease of$102,000 from the 17 current year. Next year's appropriation will fund several additional marketing and community 18 engagement initiatives, including: food focus on area's pasture to plate scene; LGBT weddings; 19 and kiosk for UNC Hospital in Hillsborough. These proposed initiatives have received support 20 from the Visitors Bureau Advisory Board. 21 • Town Contributions: The Town of Chapel Hill's contribution will remain the same at 22 $200,000 23 ■ Position Reclassification: Increase $11,096, reclassification of Visitors Bureau Director 24 position (1.0) FTE, to Community Relations Director position (1.0) FTE. The position is 25 responsible for direct oversight of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau and the 26 Orange County Public Affairs division. This position is housed in Chapel Hill, at the Visitors 27 Center and supervised the Hillsborough-based Public Affairs Director, as well as the five 28 member Visitor Bureau staff. 29 e Position Reclassification: Decrease $2,476, reclassification of Sales Manager position (1.0) 30 FTE, to Social Media/Database Administrator (1.0) FTE. The position will develop proactive 31 alignment of all social media and database content. Sales leads will be coordinated through a 32 vendor. 33 Laurie Paolicelli, Director of the Visitors Bureau, said the past two years have been 34 record breaking for occupancy revenues and guest to Orange County. She said revenues were 35 up 17 percent which boosted the fund balance substantially. She said her Board requested to 36 use these funds for two major initiatives: marriage equality campaign and promoting local farm- 37 to-fork tourism draws. She said due to these two initiatives the fund balance looks low. 38 Carla Banks said the past year was very productive in the Public Affairs Office. 39 Commissioner Jacobs asked Laurie Paolicelli if the fund balance is back in her purview. 40 Laurie Paolicelli said yes. 41 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the Carolina Inn is ever approached to pay sales tax. 42 Laurie Paolicelli said the Carolina Inn is part of the North Carolina Revenue and 43 Taxation code. She said it is deemed a "necessary instrumentality" for the State to do its 44 business. She said about one third of major donors are tax exempt. She said the topic of 45 approaching the Chancellor and the Board of Governors about changing this has arisen on 46 occasion and she would be supportive of such a conversation. 47 Commissioner Jacobs said he would encourage her and the Visitors Bureau Board to 48 pursue this making the Inn equal to its competitors. 49 Commissioner Jacobs asked if the new UNC Arts facility has long term impact on the 50 Carrboro Arts Centers.