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Staff presents ATAX fund distribution policy; committee OKs applicant training and considers ROI metric
Summary
Staff presented the town's ATAX fund distribution policy and application process; the committee backed mandatory applicant workshops for the 2026 cycle, discussed its focus on the 33% grant pool, and suggested adding an ROI/headcount calculation to future applications.
Town staff reviewed the comprehensive accommodations tax program and a new local fund distribution policy, telling the Beaufort County Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee that while state law governs eligibility, the town's distribution policy is intended to help plan local percentages and provide consistency for applicants.
Michelle, a staff member who led the presentation, summarized the update: "It goes through the entire distribution, the whole policy, which includes the state law, the town policy, the committees, the state committee, the TURK committee... It goes over both the state and the town aspects of the program." She told members the committee's primary focus is the 33% of the 65% local share that the town allocates to grants.
Staff announced two new mandatory applicant workshops (one daytime, one evening) designed to help applicants prepare stronger submissions for the 2026 application cycle; staff said all applicants must send a representative to training. "We established 2 new workshops, 1 during the daytime, 1 during the evening to help accommodate the different schedules," Michelle said.
Committee members discussed whether the panel has levers to set local percentages; legal counsel Curtis Coltrane said the town council ultimately adopts allocations but the committee may recommend distribution guidelines. Members proposed adding a requested ROI or heads-and-beds calculation to future application forms so grant reviewers can assess estimated visitor impact; staff said the current 2026 application is in place but the committee may propose edits for 2027 through the finance/administrative committee and town council.
The presentation closed with staff offering to accept follow-up questions outside the meeting and to circulate the application materials online. The committee adjourned after completing bylaws, governance and procedural housekeeping.
Next steps: staff will post workshop schedules and application materials; the committee may draft a recommendation for application edits (including ROI metrics) to bring to F&A and then town council.
