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Committee debates bed‑tax funding for Charlotte Hall Museum utilities after staff review of modern contract
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Summary
Staff told the TAC the city pays Charlotte Hall Museum utilities under Contract 2023‑229 (effective 07/01/2023, five‑year term) funded from bed tax with an annual cap of $10,000; the museum cited an earlier 1917 agreement described as 'irrevocable and perpetual.' Members asked staff to research when the funding source changed and whether payments should instead come from the general fund.
City staff told the Tourism Advisory Committee that Charlotte Hall Museum’s utilities are covered by a modern contract (Contract 2023‑229), entered July 1, 2023, with a five‑year term expiring in 2028, and that the payments are currently funded from the city’s bed‑tax allocation for museum support (an annual allocation up to $10,000).
Stuart Rosebrook, representing Charlotte Hall Museum, presented historical materials and said the museum’s long relationship with the city includes language in earlier documents making the arrangement “irrevocable and perpetual.” He said the museum relies on city support and also applies annually for a separate $5,000 tourism grant for specific programs.
Committee members questioned whether utility payments should continue to come from bed‑tax funds or be shifted to the general fund. Vice Chair Matt Broussard noted bed tax did not exist in 1917 and suggested general‑fund support may be appropriate; Chair Margo Christiansen read bed‑tax ballot language specifying the tax is intended for "promotion of tourism and the development of recreational facilities within the city of Prescott." Staff offered to research city financial records to identify when the funding source changed and said the legal and contractual implications could be reviewed further by the city attorney.
There was no formal vote. Committee members asked staff to research the historical funding change, clarify whether the 1917 language affects current obligations, and report back with legal and budgetary context.
Next steps: staff will research financial records, the legal status of the earlier agreement as it relates to the 2023 contract, and return to TAC with findings.
