[Press Release] : MEDIA ADVISORY: Proposition 1 and CVB Funding Rumor

[Press Releases]

MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Steven Sapp, Community Relations Director
573-874-7257

Proposition 1 and CVB Funding Rumor

COLUMBIA, MO (August 3, 2016) - On Tuesday, voters passed Proposition 1 to temporarily increase the Hotel/Motel Gross Receipts tax from 4 percent to 5 percent. It is always humbling when voters entrust government with financial resources.

The temporary one percent increase, which is expected to generate roughly $10 million dollars over the next 23 years, is one of the funding sources which will be used to construct a new terminal at Columbia Regional Airport (COU).  The investment in the new air terminal including design, site work, construction, runway and taxiway expansions, roadways and parking and other required work is currently estimated at $38 million dollars.

There have been some rumors after the passage of Proposition 1 which are important to address.

It is rumored that all funding, and specifically $75,000 in 2016, for the Convention and Visitors Bureau Signature Series Events which have included True-False Film Festival, Show Me State Games, Art in the Park, Roots N Blues N BBQ, and others, will cease to exist.

This is simply not true.

“Only the temporary one percent increase approved by voters on Tuesday will be used as part of the funding source for the new air terminal project .”, said Mike Matthes, City Manager. “We value and understand the importance of the CVB’s mission. The staff and council fully support it.”

The CVB’s mission is to ‘Generate economic growth and promote Columbia as a tourism destination that creates memorable experiences’ and accomplishes that mission through sales, marketing and services, and tourism development.

 “Both tourism and the airport are important economic drivers in our community. We plan to keep promoting both to help bring new dollars into Columbia. We believe great destinations need great airports.”, said Amy Schneider, Director of the CVB

The CVB announced earlier this year that tourism-related expenditures in Boone County reached record levels of $395.9 million dollars and tourism related employment in Boone County increased to 11,145 according to the Missouri Division of Tourism.

To learn more about the Columbia CVB, visit their website at visitcolumbiamo.com



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