The amount of money that should go to the Dickinson Convention and Visitors Bureau continued to be a topic of discussion as a public hearing was opened to discuss the issue at Monday's city commission meeting.
At the last meeting of the commission earlier this month, commissioners voted on a first reading of an amended ordinance which would eliminate a set amount of funding from the city to the CVB.
The CVB currently receives funding from two arenas, the hospitality tax and all funds from the lodging/occupancy tax, which is 2 percent.
The current ordinance allots that not less than 20 percent of the 1 percent hospitality tax be given to the CVB.
If the amended ordinance is passed, the amount allotted to the CVB would be up to the commission's discretion during their annual budgeting process and the commission would no longer be required to give 20 percent of the hospitality tax each year.
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City commission president Dennis Johnson said in an earlier commission meeting that he feels the occupancy tax is generating quite a bit of money because of Dickinson's strong economy. If the occupancy tax declined, Johnson said the commission could increase the amount of the hospitality tax to accommodate.
Terri Thiel, executive director of the CVB, disagrees with eliminating the funding.
Other members of the CVB board said they feel taking away the hospitality tax funding is a mistake.
"In 1992, representatives of Dickinson's hospitality industry, which includes liquor establishments, restaurants, hotels and motels, we worked together to create this 1-percent tax," said CVB board president Pat Pender. "With these funds the CVB board can continue to expand our promotional opportunities in the city of Dickinson."
At the last meeting, Thiel said she felt there was some discrepancy between the numbers projected by the city and those projected by the CVB.
Commission Vice President Joe Frenzel said the hearing will be postponed and re-opened again at the Nov. 2 meeting for anyone who wishes to comment on the matter.
Commissioners were also presented with options for the commission to consider regarding property tax exemption for buyers and builders.
City attorney Matt Kolling offered three options.
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One option would be to endorse the current home buyers exemption and initiate the maximum exemption allowed by state law for home builders. Option two could maintain the current exemption value of $75,000, but lowers the term from two years to one and provides a one-year builders exemption on the first $150,000 and limits exemption to five per builder. Option three raises the home buyers exemption to the first $100,000 but only provides the exemption for one year and provides the same $100,000 value to home builders for two years.
"We've got three options for your consideration but obviously we can mix and match the variables however you see fit," Kolling said.
The commission is expected to consider adopting an option at their Nov. 2 meeting.
In an unrelated matter, police officer Trey Weyer was given the oath of office and introduced himself.
The next meeting of the city commission is slated for 5:15 p.m., Nov. 2 at Dickinson City Hall.
