The recent debate over the Convention and Visitor's Bureau's funding and budget has gotten ugly. A Hamilton County commissioner has asked questions and made comments about the CVB. The director of the CVB has organized a campaign to dismiss the commissioner's questions and comments. The children on the playground are choosing sides and nothing useful seems to be happening. It's time for the CVB to tone down the righteous indignation and open the information vaults. Let's forget who started asking the financial questions and understand the public knows nothing about the CVB's budget. Citizens should know more and they have a perfect right to know. So, now is a good time to share.
Let's give credit where credit is due. The CVB has been successful in promoting tourism. Should success exempt them from answering questions? Nope. One commissioner has asked for more information to determine if some of the CVB's substantial revenue source (hotel/motel tax) could be shared in order to help pay for additional county needs. In a heroic defense of the CVB, a different commissioner has indicated the CVB should not be bothered because it's regularly audited. While true, his comment does not answer the most burning question, "Does the CVB need the vast amount of tax revenue it receives?" Thoughtful people understand the CVB's bookkeeping may be excellent and their revenue and expenses may match. However, an external audit does not answer whether the entire $7.1 million in hotel/motel taxes needs to go to the CVB. Citizens are not blind to the fact that government funded entities usually try to spend every penny they receive, so that they can justify the same funding or more the next year.
Regardless of who asked the questions, how they were asked or how many local CEOs have come to the CVB's defense, it's fair to ask if the CVB needs all of the the county's hotel/motel tax. For all we know, the CVB might be barely scraping by on a total budget of $8.4 million.
It's time for everyone involved to relax their "bowed up" backs and draw back their claws. The CVB should willingly and with gladness share all aspects of their financial data. The CVB is a publicly funded organization using local tax revenues. Even if they detest an inquiring commissioner, every citizen should have access to their financial information. Furthermore, CVB should post their current and past financial details on their website.
If there is nothing to hide, the local home folks can take pleasure in a fine report and the CVB can take credit for the public transparency which they of all people should embrace.
Deborah Scott
Chattanooga