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City to seek Nash County TDA hotel-tax funds for Imperial Center repairs; county allocation rules may limit eligibility
Summary
City staff said they will apply to the Nash County Tourism Development Authority for hotel occupancy tax funds held in the city's name to pay for repairs at the Imperial Center, but councilors asked whether county rules restrict eligible projects to facilities located in Nash County.
City staff said they will apply to the Nash County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to request hotel-occupancy-tax funds that the county is holding in the city’s name, aiming to use the money for urgent repairs at the Imperial Center including roof and window work.
Staff told the council the TDA holds nearly $2 million attributable to Rocky Mount and that an application to the TDA’s May meeting would request release of funds to cover repairs. Staff emphasized the Imperial Center’s role in producing visitor nights tied to sports and event programming and said attendance figures and facility usage will be included in the application.
A council member asked whether the county’s local legislation restricts eligible projects to facilities within Nash County, noting the Imperial Center is located in Edgecombe County while the statute allocates 3% of the hotel occupancy tax to Nash County and 2% to the city. Staff replied that the requirement is written into the local bill passed in 2001 and said it may be time to seek an update to that law.
Councilors asked staff to include attendance and facility data in the application and to pursue the conversation with the Nash County TDA; staff said they had already tried to engage the TDA and would continue pursuing the request. Council members discussed using occupancy-tax revenue to support a broader downtown visitor experience once repairs are completed.
