In 2017, the Tennessee State Comptroller did an audit of the Chattanooga Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. The audit found that the CVB was cavalierly spending tax dollars without documentation and had failed to properly inform the Hamilton County Commission of its actions.
On Wednesday, the County Commission approved $8.4 million in hotel/motel tax revenue be given to the CVB. I objected since the CVB could not be transparent enough produce a sufficiently itemized budget so citizen/taxpayers could see how the CVB was planning to spend the money. I had asked for all non-profits receiving funding from the County to provide county government a detailed budget. This is exactly what is required of every department of county government. Most non-profits responded properly, including an excellent budget information from both the Humane Educational Society and the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce.
However, the CVB could not produce a budget with sufficient detail. I was first told the budget was under development. This indicated to me and every citizen of Hamilton County that the CVB is prepared to receive more than $8 million in new tax dollars without having a budget to explain how it will be spent? Or perhaps the leadership of the CVB just does not intend or want to share how they spend the funds they receive from the Commission?
After a second request, new CVB President Barry White sent a rudimentary, one-page budget with 12 line items and zero detail. I called it “pitiful” during this week’s commission meeting, and it is. Non-profits receiving about one percent of what the CVB receives were able to provide well documented budgets, but not the CVB.
Everyone must realize the CVB receives roughly $700,000 a month from Hamilton County Government? Because of the CVB thumbing its nose in the face of taxpayers, I proposed the County withhold the monthly payments until the CVB can provide a simple, detailed budget. That proposal was met with total silence from my fellow Commissioners, something I just don’t understand.
It just leaves me and taxpayers who value transparency and accountability asking questions?
Why does the CVB insist on being difficult to share information?
Why did the CVB not have a fully itemized budget prepared for inclusion in the Hamilton County FY2019 budget as required by every department of Hamilton County Government, every Hamilton County Constitutional Officer, and the Sheriff’s Department?
Why does this not bother the Mayor or my colleagues on the County Commission?
Why does a CVB need $2.5 million in personnel salaries?
And, it is worth noting that once again the CVB is reinvesting zero money back into our community-based tourist venues. There is no funding for the arts organizations. There is no reinvestment back into our parks, our museums, our entertainment venues, or our zoo. No help by the CVB to bolster needed improvements at our public athletic facilities which bring in thousands of visitors each year. However, there is always plenty of money for the promotion and advertising of private for-profit attractions and a few of our hotels all of which are owned or operated by members of the CVB Executive committee.
I had hoped the events of 2017 and the hiring of a new leader at the CVB would bring about significant and swift changes in the culture of how the CVB is managed. The CVB‘s new president Barry White has indicated to me that he and his staff are developing a “strategic plan” for moving the CVB forward. I am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to review this plan when it is made public. I trust Mr. White’s “strategic plan” will provide a clear and detailed picture of how he plans to lead the CVB in a new direction for the betterment of our community, and he develop a more detailed 2018/2019 budget and will have a detailed CVB budget prepared well in advance of the Commission voting on next year’s budget.
County Commissioner Tim Boyd