Convention Center Confusion…

Let me try to clear some of your confusion. First a little clarification: "Convention Centers" by their nature are not designed to be profit centers for the cities that operate them. They are designed to draw events from outside the community which will cause the organizers, exhibitors and those in attendance to spend money in the surrounding community. "Civic Centers" (like the Phoenix Expo Center) are designed for smaller regional and/or local events. They too benefit the community by the organizers, exhibitors and those in attendance spending money in the surrounding community. But their facilities can not support certain events because of their size limitations. Example: the circus could not use the Phoenix Expo Center because the ceilings are too low. Many centers which are privately owned (like Hammonds in Springdale) use the exhibit space as a loss leader to generate sales of rooms in their hotel. A major mistake was made many years ago when our City leaders, in their infinite widsom, did not enact a proper hospitality tax (which is common around the U.S.). Then when the present Convention Center was completed 11 years ago, again they did not enact a proper hospitality tax because the State of Arkansas was turning back funds for the operation of the Convention Center. They (the Board Of Directors of which have been a number of different people over the years)knew the funding was going to come to an end in June of 2010 and they just "kicked-the-can" down the road so to speak. One of the first issues the present B.O.D.undertook was addressing the Convention Center. An adhoc committee was formed to determine the best course of action. One of the suggestions WAS to sell the Convention Center to a private entity. A few people inquired, but no one felt they could turn a profit. The one percent prepared food tax should have been put in place years ago but I guess it was politically expedient for the elected officials to say, "See how great we are." It will be paid primarily by people who do not live in Fort Smith (not only those who come here for events at the Convention Center but people from Van Buren & Barling, & Greenwood, etc.) Yes, the tax will generate more than necessary to just operate the Convention Center. The extra will be used to expand the Convention Center so it can have a commercial kitchen and be able to support larger events, purchase to old bakery in order to increase parking, and do more marketing of ALL that Fort Smith has to offer (the Convention Center, Phoenix Expo Center, the Fort Smith Event Center, the Marshalls Museum, the National Historic Site, etc) to those who want a place to visit and to groups looking for places to have their meetings and events. Rental rates will also be able to be more flexible to entice groups to use the Convention Center. This controversy has escalated due to a very vocal few who feel it is their duty to protest any type of tax and that is their right; but the present B.O.D. acted in a both legal and responsible manner by passing this by ordinance. All of which is now moot since it will be going to a public vote in November. I can only hope that those who vote will take the time to educate themselves and not just vote against it just because it is a tax. BTW - I am not a government official. I go to work every day and sometimes wonder if we will have enough at the end of the paycheck. But I understand that we need to keep growing and moving forward. Respectfully, jkole