Mitchell Kirby's Real Position on the Local Hospitality Tax

I invite you to read the following editorial

http://www.scnow.com/scp/news/opinion/editorials/article/voters_should_re_elect_fowler_for_treasurer_kirby_to_council/17495/

that the Morning News published in the paper and online on October 26, 2008. I then invite you to read the comments I attached below the editorial today (10/29/08). The comments I placed on the SCnow website can also be found below.

------start of comment on SCnow------

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The hospitality tax is actually a 2% prepared food tax. The tax has been advertised as a way to fund a new museum for the downtown revitalization of the city of Florence. This tax is touted as wonderful because there will be matching funds from the state, who is experiencing its own financial difficulties. Does this story sound familiar? One cent makes sense for roads! Well, guess what? That money is not rolling in.

Mr. Kirby told the Morning News that he was in favor of the new museum. I am sure Mr. Kirby has also told everyone - that can vote for him - he did NOT vote to give them this hospitality - a.k.a. prepared food - tax. Actually the fact is he did not vote for or against this ordinance.

Here are the facts. I invite you to check out each link for yourself.


1) May 1, 2008 County Council Meeting – First Reading/Introduction of Ordinance No. 01-2008/09. As is customary for first readings and introductions of ordinances, there was no discussion, no debate and no voting on this ordinance. Mitchell was present at this meeting.

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Minutes/2008/05012008minutes.pdf

http://www.florenceco.org/FCVideo/Council/Council-5-01-08.wmv

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Agendas/2008/05012008short_agenda.pdf

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Agendas/2008/05012008_agenda.pdf

(Note: The full agenda link doesn’t work but this is the link that http://www.florenceco.org/ gives for it.)


2) May 15, 2008 County Council Meeting – Public Hearing/Second Reading of Ordinance No. 01-2008/09. First opportunity to vote. Mr. Kirby appeared to receive a cell phone call during the council meeting and left the chambers. He returned when discussion and voting was over for four separate ordinance votes including this one. He didn’t vote for or against it because he conveniently wasn’t in the chambers at the time of discussion and voting. He never unsealed his lips. The vote was unanimous, by those choosing to remain in the chambers.

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Minutes/2008/05152008minutes.pdf

http://www.florenceco.org/FCVideo/Council/Council-5-15-08.wmv

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Agendas/2008/05152008short_agenda.pdf

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Agendas/2008/05152008agenda.pdf

(05-15-08 Full Agenda PDF - See PDF numbered pages 85-100 or attachment page numbers 77-92. The attachment page numbers can be found on the bottom right of the page itself. For example, attachment page 77 is actually the 85th page of the overall PDF.)

3) June 5, 2008 County Council Meeting – Third and final reading of Ordinance No. 01-2008/09. Mr. Kirby was noticeably absent as his constituency from Country Lane was there to address council about the condition of their road. The hospitality tax/ new museum tax passed unanimously. Gasoline was selling for almost $4.00 a gallon at the time.

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Minutes/2008/06052008minutes.pdf

http://www.florenceco.org/FCVideo/Council/Council-6-05-08.wmv

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Agendas/2008/06052008short_agenda.pdf

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Agendas/2008/06052008agenda.pdf

(06-05-08 Full Agenda PDF - See PDF numbered pages 48-64 or attachment page numbers 42-58. The attachment page numbers can be found on the bottom right of the page itself. For example, attachment page 42 is actually the 48th page of the overall PDF. Also see PDF page 50 or attachment page 44. This is the first mention of specifically where the money will be spent.)

As a side note Ordinance No. 01-2008/09 has two divisions:
Division I: Annual Budget – 11 ½ pages of Ordinance
Division II: Local Hospitality tax – 3 ½ pages of Ordinance

I have noticed that nowhere in the Division II section of the ordinance itself does it specifically mention building a museum in Florence. The closest thing it says to that is the hospitality tax revenue would be “used for the dedicated purpose of improving services and facilities for tourists and the citizens of Florence County”. Also, there is no mention in the ordinance of any state or federally matched funds to help build anything - including a museum.

However, the June 5th full agenda does finally mention how the money will be spent for nine months, commencing 10/1/08. It mentions this in a separate summary sheet that is not part of the actual ordinance. See PDF page 50 or attachment page 44 of the 6/5/08 meeting full agenda. It appears that for the nine months starting 10/1/08 that the Florence Museum will receive $300,000 which is 43.7% of the total estimated revenues for nine months of $685,125 from the Local Hospitality tax. Annualized that would be about $400,000 a year going towards the new Florence museum. I invite you to read it for yourself.

http://www.florenceco.org/Council/Agendas/2008/06052008agenda.pdf

For sixteen years Mitchell Kirby has desired to have his cake and eat it too. So once again he is telling you he wanted a museum, but he did not want or vote for the tax. He wasn’t present to vote against it either.

During these economic hard times, asking the citizens of the county, and any visitors to the county to build a museum to revitalize downtown Florence is just plain wrong. Why not a referendum on the museum? Why not let the people decide? Oh, that’s right the voters of Florence District One will not even build their own children a school, so you know they would not have voted yes to build a museum. But all the council members will vote yes (and some will claim they voted yes if it helps them look good) and let someone else pay for a museum to revitalize downtown Florence.

I need your vote on November 4th. Elect Betty Dowling to Florence County Council District 4. Please find out more about me and visit my blog at: http://bettydowling.blogspot.com/ . I look forward to serving you!

Thanks,

Betty Dowling
Candidate for Florence County Council – District 4
Making Government Work for YOU!

------end of comment on SCnow------