York County considers hotel tax recommendations

York County officials on Monday will consider allocating nearly $133,000 to six local groups and event organizations that help attract tourism.

The money comes from a 2 percent tax paid by visitors staying in York County hotels. The charge is a South Carolina accommodations tax which municipalities can use to reinvest in tourism-generating activities.

In York County, about $32,000 in accommodations tax revenue will be used for the local government’s general operating costs. The county’s Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee has made the following recommendations to the County Council for distributing $132,566 to these local organizations:

▪ The Olde English District – $17,000, a $2,000 increase from last year’s tax dollar contribution. The district commission organizes tourism efforts across seven South Carolina counties, including York, Chester and Lancaster.

▪ Culture and Heritage Commission for county museums – $3,000, the same amount as last year. The museums host exhibits and events year-round.

▪ York Summerfest – $7,066, a $566 increase from last year. The all-day event is Aug. 22.

▪ Arts Council of York County – $4,000, a $1,000 increase from last year. The Arts Council holds events throughout the year.

▪ Come-See-Me Festival – $1,500, a $351 increase from last year. Supports the annual April event in Rock Hill.

▪ The Rock Hill/York County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau – $100,000, about $7,000 less than the County Council’s previous budget pledge to the agency. Advisory committee members said recently they believe the CVB receives sufficient money from another source: the county’s hospitality tax, applicable to prepared food and beverages at local businesses.

York County’s Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee rules require that groups or event organizations receiving these tax dollars contribute to tourism efforts. The money can be used for promotion and advertising to draw visitors from outside the county and outside South Carolina. Groups are eligible for the money if their events target visitors from at least 100 miles outside York County – a move to increase the number of people who will stay overnight in hotels.

For information visit the advisory committee’s website at yorkcountygov.com.

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 7:08 PM with the headline "York County considers hotel tax recommendations."