The Aiken Department of Public Safety and several tourism-related events are getting a helping hand from the city of Aiken.
The Aiken City Council voted 6-0 Monday evening to approve a resolution allocating $106,000 from Capital Sales Tax IV proceeds for replacement equipment at the Department of Public Safety.
The city council voted unanimously March 25 to approve a recommended allocation of $484,853.83 of projected accommodations tax proceeds to several tourism-related events.
Department of Public Safety
The Capital Project Sales Tax IV funds will replace automated external defibrillators, extrication equipment and a speed trailer and message board.
A Capital Project Sales Tax is a 1% sales and use tax.
South Carolina law allows counties to charge the tax to fund specific capital improvement projects like roads, bridges, public facilities, water and sewer projects if a majority of a county's voters vote in favor of the tax in a general election after being presented with a list of the specific projects to be funded.
State law also mandates that counties share the proceeds of the taxes with the cities and towns within its borders based on the percentage of the county's population living within each city or town, providing Aiken with the money to fund the public safety equipment.
Councilwoman Kay Brohl made the motion to approve the resolution. Councilwoman Gail Diggs seconded her motion.
Councilman Ed Woltz did not attend Tuesday's meeting.
Tourism events
The tourism funding will go to:
• $49,500 to the Aiken Steeplechase Association for the spring and fall steeplechases and a music festival;
• $48,180.58 to the Barnard E. Bee Camp for the Battle of Aiken and Wild West Fest;
• $47,000 to the Aiken Downtown Development Association for events and tourism;
• $35,116 to the Aiken Training Track for the Aiken Trials;
• $30,000 to the Aiken Electric Trust for Run United;
• $28,600 to Aiken Performing Arts for its concert series;
• $28,255 to the Aiken Polo Club to promote its events;
• $25,268.75 to the Aiken Symphony for its concert series;
• $25,000 to Joye in Aiken for its events;
• $23,672.50 to Umoja Village for Shoutfest and related events;
• $21,500 to Hitchcock Woods Foundation for the Aiken Horse Show;
• $18,000 to the city's Parks, Recreation and Tourism department for the Christmas in Hopelands and Christmas Craft Show events;
• $15,000 to the Aiken Center for the Arts for the Aiken Antique Show;
• $15,000 to the Aiken Chamber of Commerce for Aiken's Makin;
• $15,000 to the Aiken Horse Park Foundation for the Grand Prix at Bruce's Field and October at the field;
• $14,600 to the USC Aiken Etherredge Center for its concert series;
• $12,960 to the Aiken County Veterans Council for the Battle of Aiken and the Memorial Day Parade;
• $10,000 to the Center for African American History Art and Culture for a Juneteenth event;
• $9,200 to the Gaston Livery Stable for the Aiken Music Festival;
• $8,001 for the Aiken Seafood Festival; and
• $5,000 to the Aiken Civic Orchestra.
The tourism funding comes from the state's 2% accommodations tax.
Each year, the city's Accommodations Tax Committee meets and votes to recommend an allocation of the money. This year, the committee met Feb. 28-29.
The city council then meets and approves, modifies or rejects the allocation. The city council approved the allocation with no changes March 25.
