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1. What is the ATAX?

South Carolina in the 1980s established a two percent tax on overnight accommodations in addition to the statewide sales tax. 

State laws stipulates how those monies are to be allocated. A small portion of the Accommodations Tax (ATAX) money stays in the local municipality or county where it is collected. The remainder must be used to attract and provide for tourists and must be spent on tourism-related expenditures.

Local revenues from the so-called "bed-tax" are designated to fund programs that promote tourism and attract visitors.

2. Who decides how to spend the money?

State law providers for local government such as the City of Beaufort to establish advisory committees to review requests for Accommodations Tax revenue and to submit recommendations to the local government body. 

The goal was to reduce political pressures and to increase local accountability. 

Ultimately, though, the City Council makes the decision on how to spend the money.

3. What is the Beaufort Tourism Development Advisory Committee (TDAC)?

The TDAC is an advisory body appointed by Beaufort City Council to:

• Conduct interviews as needed
• Recruit appropriate applicants for Accommodations Tax grants, 
• Screen the requests
• Submit recommendations to the Beaufort City Council

In Fall 2016, the Tourism Development Advisory Committee included:

• Jonathan Sullivan (Chair)
• Vimal Desai
• Laura McAlhaney
• Susan Sauer
• Jane Sidwell
• Mary Ann Solem
• Gail Westerfield

4. How did the TDAC decide who to recommend for funding for Fiscal Year 2018?

The Applications were made available on August 10, 2017 with an original application deadline September 15, 2017. Due to the threat from Hurricane Irma, the deadline was extended until September 29, 2017. Public Notices were published in the Island Packet for both the original deadline and the revised deadline. Applicants were required to make personal presentations of their requests to the committee on October 13.

For the current year, Fiscal Year 2018, the City of Beaufort allocated $200,903 in accommodations taxes for distribution.

Committee members reviewed each application, considered how the request fit into overall mission to promote tourism within the state's tax guidelines, and then heard in-person presentations from each group seeking funds.

One of the committee's priorities was stretching each grant dollar as far as possible. For instance, marketing materials and promotions that included an Internet component (website, Facebook, other social media, etc.) earned more attention that print-only projects. Projects that demonstrated partnerships with other organizations also earned attention.

5. What is the Beaufort City Council's role in this?

The City Council is scheduled to discuss the Tourism Development Advisory Committee's recommendations October 24, 2017 with a final a vote and approval on November 14, 2017.

6. Who is recommended to receive money in this fiscal year?

For a complete listing of the Tourism Development Advisory Committee's recommendations, please view the TDAC Recommendations 2018 (PDF).

Although City Council may change the grants amounts recommended by the TDAC. The largest recommended grants were:

• $130,000 to the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce for general marketing
• $30,000 to the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce for Visitors Center operations
• $15,000 to the SC Lowcountry and Resort Island Tourism for general promotions
• $7,000 to Santa Elena Foundation for general marketing
• $6,903 to Beaufort History Museum for permanent exhibit renovations
• $6,000 to Historic Beaufort Foundation for Battle of Beaufort Exhibit
• $4,000 to Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail for mobile app updates
• $1,000 to Exchange Club of Beaufort Ghost Tours for the benefit of CAPA
• $1,000 to Historic Beaufort Foundation for Experience Beaufort Package