Where The Money Goes.

Quoted from this year’s City budget document.

"In April 2001, the voters authorized an increase in the Lodging Tax rate. The rate approved went from 2% to 4%. Since fiscal 2002, the overall trend in Lodging Tax receipts has been negative.

Despite a peak in fiscal 2007, revenues have fallen off approximately 34% ($43,350) to what is being projected for fiscal 2011.

This year again, the City will be contracting for tourism services through the Carthage Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB in turn will distribute and account for funds to other entities providing tourism services. The total amount appropriated is $90,500. This amount is down from last year based on projections which are based on current and past trends. Revenues for Lodging Tax are estimated at $85,000. Taking into account the increase approved in 2001, receipts are currently about 7.2% lower for year-to-date totals for the end of April 2010 compared to last year. Additionally, receipts are also lower than the high year of 2002’s year-to-date amounts by almost 31 %. The trend since Fiscal 2002, had been generally downward to 2005 and picked up to Fiscal 2007 but has been decreasing since then. With the turnover of a couple of local motels, the CVB has some concerns as to the level of collections and late fees. They have been exploring options with the City Attorney and City staff. The Missouri Department ofTourism has changed the way the cooperative grant program is administered. Previously, the CVB obtained advertising grant funds directly from the Department. Now, the Department of Tourism contracts (on a regional basis) with the County for area wide advertising. This program is now administered locally by the Joplin CVB.

As in the past, staff will write the contract similar to the current year. Staff basically structured the payment to CVB based on actual collections of the tax. In other words, the contract will be a not-to-exceed amount based on actual collections.

There was a desire expressed a few years ago on the part of a cross section of the businesses, government, and community citizens to develop a long-range action plan to attract additional tourism to Carthage. Part of the explanation to the voters on the use ofthe proceeds ofthe Lodging Tax was to be used to provide coordination, expansion and unification of existing tourism marketing efforts, including cooperative marketing with the State Division of Tourism, attracting additional sporting events and tournaments for youths and adults, and attracting additional small group events, conventions and trade shows. The CVB is responsible for the general tourism goals for the City.

The goal of the program is to create experiences that encompass the unique aspects ofthe community, which, in turn, will attract tourists and encourage them to stay overnight and experience the City of Carthage and its attractions."

Today’s issue is the last of our eighteenth year. Startin’ Monday, we’ll be back to a three digit Roman numeral, XIX on the masthead.

Our first Mornin’ Mail was published on June 18, 1992. I keep a copy of it on the wall just to remind us of our humble beginnings. And to remind us that we haven’t really changed that much in the last eighteen years. It is also a reminder that we are the only newspaper still actually printed in Carthage. The last thread of a legacy of nearly a hunderd and fifty years of publications being printed in this city.

Our existence is made possible by the sponsors you see on these pages. We ask that you "tell ‘em ya saw it in the Mornin’ Mail" so we can continue the unique tradition of a "small, town newspaper."

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

---

Weekly Columns

artCentral

ART NOTES from Hyde House

by Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

Hard to believe it is time once again for artCenral’s Annual Membership Show! The letters went out earlier this month to our member/artists and we hope to once again have a nice showing of the best work from our current 100+ strong member artists who have always before brought in beautiful and interesting pieces for this show. I will be checking in art beginning Sunday, June 20th here at the Hyde House from noon to 5:00, and then two additional days following, Monday and Tuesday during those same hours. All work must be in house by Wednesday, as display and hanging will begin, and the judging will take place on Thursday the 24th. Our judge this year is Sally Baird of Springfield. Sally brings to us a wealth of experience and knowledge of area art, as she has been active for many years in the Springfield art scene, both as a collector and as a member of numerous art groups and boards. We look forward to welcoming Sally to a venue of art and artists that she is not familiar with, and know that she will appreciate what we have to offer here. Additionally, Beth Simmons representing our show underwriter McCune Brooks Regional Hospital will be present to select this year’s Underwriter’s prize. The public is invited to attend the opening of this exhibition on Friday, June 25th with the member/guest picnic hosted by artCentral. This inside art exhibition, outdoor dinner affair is free and food will be furnished, but members and guests are asked to bring with them their favorite dessert to share. Donations will be accepted. I hope you will put this on your calendar and join us Friday the 25th at 6:00 for this event under our tents, and take a look at the art featured by our talented members!