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Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 07:07 PM Feb 2017

Blacks and whites join in opposition to fees in Alabama city

Source: Associated Press


Jay Reeves, Associated Press Updated 4:53 pm, Thursday, February 23, 2017






BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Blacks who celebrate the civil rights movement and whites who commemorate the Civil War are suddenly finding themselves fighting on the same side in historic Selma, Alabama: against City Hall.

Both groups say the city is squeezing them with demands for thousands of dollars in up-front payments to stage annual events that bring tens of thousands of visitors to an otherwise sleepy community where unemployment is high and boarded-up homes and businesses are a common sight.

Plans for next month's Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which commemorates the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march of 1965, are up in the air over the city's demand. And the re-enactment of the 1865 Battle of Selma, involving hundreds of history buffs in Civil War garb, has been canceled because organizers couldn't afford the tab.

The jubilee draws mostly blacks, the battle re-enactment mostly whites. So now, two groups with different interests and membership rosters are united in being upset with Mayor Darrio Melton and other leaders who say the city can't afford the police overtime, fire protection and cleanup the events require.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Blacks-and-whites-join-in-opposition-to-fees-in-10954806.php

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Blacks and whites join in opposition to fees in Alabama city (Original Post) Judi Lynn Feb 2017 OP
Before he left office, President Obama designated the Birmingham BumRushDaShow Feb 2017 #1
It's quite a dilemma. yallerdawg Feb 2017 #2
Visitors spent $81.7 million in the Selma area in 2015, according to the state tourism agency. csziggy Feb 2017 #3

BumRushDaShow

(127,299 posts)
1. Before he left office, President Obama designated the Birmingham
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 07:43 PM
Feb 2017

"Civil Rights District" as a National Monument. The NPS is expected to contribute $300,000 towards that.



http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/01/birmingham_civil_rights_nation.html

It is a small town and they really should consider finding some way to budget for tourism at this point.

yallerdawg

(16,104 posts)
2. It's quite a dilemma.
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 07:48 PM
Feb 2017

We want public services but what if we don't have money for public services?

Rep. Hank Sanders says, "We already paid to march across that bridge!" But that was over half a century ago.

Selma is a relatively impoverished community in the historic Black Belt. The revenue-generating mall and other stores have closed up. The city is in decline.

Something has to change.

Obviously, the City of Selma needs to be a partner in the creating revenue from the weeklong Bridge Crossing annual event, and the Battle of Selma reenactment.

Otherwise, there is no public service in the budget.

csziggy

(34,120 posts)
3. Visitors spent $81.7 million in the Selma area in 2015, according to the state tourism agency.
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 09:27 PM
Feb 2017

The quote above is from the article linked in the OP.

If the city and county can't figure out a way to get the revenues needed to support the tourism these events bring to the area, they will LOSE that $80+ million that is brought in from outside.

Increase taxes on motel rooms is an obvious move. Right now Dallas county charges between 3 and 6% lodging tax + $1 per room. They also have an "Amusement fee" (I am not sure what that is) that is between 1.5 and 4.5%. (http://revenue.alabama.gov/SALESTAX/sales/index.cfm?Action=CountyDetail)

Florida has a much higher hotel (transient) rate:

The Central Florida Counties consist of Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and Polk Counties. All of these counties, with the exception of Seminole County have included a discretionary sales tax surcharge. An example of the total tax rate when staying at a Central Florida hotel would include the transient rental rate + the county tax (general + discretionary) for a total amount.

Orange County 6.00% + 6.50% = 12.5%
Osceola County 6.00% + 7.00% = 13%
Seminole County 5.00% + 6.00% = 11%
Lake County 4.00% + 7.00% = 11%
Polk County 5.00% + 7.00% = 12%
http://aboutorlando.com/orlando-area-hotel-tax-rates/


That money pays for police, fire and emergency services as well as providing for advertising to increase tourism.

Many of the places I've visited have over 10% taxes on hotels - it's pretty normal and makes sense. Unless of course, you are a Republican and do not want to offer services in general and only want to provide services to those who can pay out of pocket.
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