Tourism Development Authority approves 2010-11 budget, cuts current one

The New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority, which promotes travel and conventions in the region, adopted a $3.2 million budget for 2010-2011 on Wednesday. Members also approved an amendment to cut the budget for the current year, which ends on June 30, by about $157,000.

Next year's budget is about 5 percent less than the current year. The reductions reflect a 10 percent lower estimate for revenues from room occupancy tax collections.

TDA President and CEO Kim Hufham told the board that although the room tax numbers were not in for May and June yet, the board needed to go ahead and pass its budget. If those figures turn out better than current projections, the money will be carried over to the next fiscal year's budget.

Hufham had told the board at a meeting last month that projected spending was being decreased by freezing salaries, reducing the pension plan, putting a replacement position on hold, cutting training funds, and delaying capital expenditures for at least another year.

Vice Chairman John Andrews, who presided over the meeting Wednesday, reminded the group that the authority's computer server was near the end of its usable life, but since Internet marketing is becoming increasingly more important, it will need to be replaced immediately if it starts to go down.