Ocean Springs Chamber tells aldermen it does not need a funding contract; board to review proposed MOU

Cynthia Sutton, CEO of the Ocean Springs Chamber Main Street, told the Board of Aldermen that the Chamberrequests annual funding from the city's 2% food-and-beverage tax and 2% lodging tax and that, in her view, a separate contract or agreement is unnecessary because the state statute and the Chamber's customary request process already define how funds are used.

"I do not recommend a contract or an agreement at all because we are always do request what we do," Cynthia Sutton said, describing the Chamber as the city's tourism and marketing arm and noting the Chamber's role in producing festivals and drawing overnight visitors.

Board response: Several aldermen said they agree with the Chamber's work but also signaled a need for stronger written clarity when taxpayer dollars are involved. One alderman (speaker 8) said a memorandum of understanding would be "a proper way to conduct business with taxpayer dollars" and provided a handout to the council with suggested points to reshape the draft agreement. The mayor/chair and others asked staff to circulate the chamber-drafted language and the board packet draft; members agreed to review suggested edits and return the item for further consideration.

Context: Sutton said lodging-tax receipts have grown (she contrasted a prior annual figure of about $30,000 to a more recent figure of about $90,000) and described the Chamber's summer request process, which provides line-item examples and performance details. She framed the Chamber's work as marketing that often does not appear in routine council materials because it targets out-of-town visitors.

Next steps: The board did not adopt a final contract or MOU at the meeting. Members asked staff and the city attorney to provide copies of the draft language and to return the item for further discussion and possible revision.