From Deseret News archives:
Tourism arm a failure?
Grover's unhappy over funding for convention, visitors bureau
"If all (the UVCVB is) going to do is run the visitors center and run a bunch of advertising campaigns, the county can do that probably just as cheap or cheaper," Grover said.
Grover's frustration stems from what he says are becoming regular requests from the UVCVB for more funding without the results to justify such increases.
The commission chairman said the agreement in August 2003 when the UVCVB privatized was that two-thirds of the county's transient room tax (hotel tax), calculated on a three-year average, would be the bureau's source of income.
For 2006, the UVCVB is entitled to $625,000 in transient room tax, which represents about 56 percent of its budget. The UVCVB requested that the remaining $484,000 come from the tourism, recreation, cultural and convention tax (restaurant tax).
At the time, Commissioners Larry Ellertson and Steve White said some research needed to be done to see if a $1.7 million surplus of restaurant tax that had been on the county books since 1999 could be used to fund the additional $363,000 requested by the bureau in its business plan.
And on Tuesday the two commissioners voted to do just that, giving the UVCVB the majority needed to approve the additional funding.
Ellertson said he views the funding of the UVCVB as an investment.
"Part of the anticipated use of the (restaurant tax) that we had there was to use it to promote, so let's invest it," he said. "That's what we're counting on, that it's an investment rather than a cost or an expense."
But Grover hasn't been satisfied with the UVCVB's production in its first 2 1/8 years as a private entity. The bureau's operations should be funded by its share of the transient room tax, he said, thus providing incentive for its sales representatives to increase the cash flow.
"But now they're trying to go back and get previous (restaurant tax) surplus that was accumulated years prior to them even coming into existence," he said.
Comments
- Boyle hopes debut album 'delivers' 4:17 p.m.
- Fans greet returning Real Salt Lake 4:16 p.m.
- RSL protects 11 players from draft 4:00 p.m.
- Man allegedly fired at motorist 4:00 p.m.
- Doctor faces voyeurism charges 3:57 p.m.
- Payson, chamber seek medical firm 2:49 p.m.
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple 2:47 p.m.
- Palin's book tour hits Fort Bragg 2:42 p.m.
- Matheson unsure about health bill 2:40 p.m.
- BYU's Lamb, Jorgensen reprimanded 2:38 p.m.
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
214 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
212 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
189 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - BYU records with win
132 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
131 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
110 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
103 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99
Utah's only Pottery Barn at Trolley Square, 600 S. 700 East, has...
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
Question: Bart Stupak is a congressman from Michigan and an ace...
There is an ongoing effort to eliminate the diversity of the religious...
To "Anonymous | 3:14 p.m. " other than liberals saying that they will feel...
I didn't say that the medical profession, whether privately funded or...
Congratulation RSL! Job well done...
It's just sad how pathetic the GOP has become. From the unbelievable lies...
I love it when people start criticizing BYU for being "isolated". BYU is...
Your kidding Protest a Temple near my home. The value of our home went up...
Apparently you do. If you don't care then why read the article and comment. I...
This article doesn't say a thing about members complaining.



You can be the first to comment on this story.