Jackson County Commissioner Mickie Davis plans to introduce a resolution asking county officials to examine the county’s authority over tourism tax dollars provided to the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
Davis raised concerns about recently approved Chamber bylaws and the oversight of public money provided to the organization. Davis said 70 percent of the county’s hotel-motel tax revenue goes to the Chamber, the remainder going to the county’s general fund.
“Because it’s public money,” Davis said, “We have a duty to make sure that it’s used fairly and that people can see how that taxpayer money is spent.”
The proposed resolution would ask Mayor Brian Lee and the county attorney to research what authority the county has over tourism funding.
Davis said questions include whether the county could manage tourism efforts through a committee of elected officials, allow other organizations to compete for tourism funding or establish additional requirements for the use of the money.
“What rules can we lawfully require so that the spending is open and fair?” Davis said. “This is taxpayer money.”
Davis also questioned changes to the Chamber’s bylaws, including provisions concerning board authority and membership. Davis raised concerns about how Chamber businesses are promoted but specifically stopped short of accusing board members of directing the promotion of their own businesses.
“I’m not saying that the board directed the Facebook person to go in there and, ‘Hey, advertise my business,’” Davis said. “I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that it did happen and it’s the appearance of impropriety that counts. What it looks like.”
Davis said the resolution would initially seek information rather than change the Chamber’s operations or interrupt its funding.
“But what it doesn’t do, it does not force them to do anything,” Davis said. “It doesn’t force anything right now. It just asks questions so that we can have information to make decisions.”
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Olivia Johnson responded during the meeting. Johnson said she welcomes questions about the organization and plans to provide commissioners with more information about its work.
“I just wanted to make it known that my door is always open,” Johnson said. “I would love for questions to be asked me rather than brought to a public forum or social media.”
Johnson said she plans to hold what she called a “Commissioner 101” to explain the Chamber’s work.
Davis said the proposed resolution would give the mayor and county attorney 60 days to research the county’s legal options. The Jackson County Commission took no action on the issue.
Davis said she originally planned to introduce the resolution during Monday’s but delayed it until the next commission meeting to provide additional public notice and give those who disagree an opportunity to respond.