Myrtle Beach council split on contributions to Carolina Country Music Fest

Myrtle Beach City Council members are still divided on whether or not they should give and just how much they should give in accommodations tax revenue to Carolina Country Music Fest.

Organizers of the for-profit event, which drew crowds of nearly 20,000 in its first concert series last year, asked for $100,000 in accommodations tax revenue to promote the event. Then, organizers asked for $108,000 in in-kind city services to help police and clean up the event.

But council members are split on whether or not to allow the popular event to “double dip” in city coffers, especially after denying a local organization receiving a-tax money $2,800 in in-kind services for a St. Patrick’s Day event. The Oceanfront Merchants Association, which organizes the holiday party, ended up canceling it this year.

“We kind of set a precedent … about in-kind services versus a-tax money,” said Mayor pro tem Mike Lowder, who added that he can’t support a decision to grant both. “I just want folks to understand that we’re not going to double-dip here.”

Councilman Wayne Gray suggested the city give the music fest $75,000, adding that the a-tax money is different from in-kind services and is used, as state law requires, to promote a tourism-generating event.

Lowder pointed out that organizers said ticket sales for this year’s event have already surpassed their goals, saying the music fest seems to be doing well enough without the extra promotion.

Mayor John Rhodes said the city should give the group something for all of the tourism and economic benefits the concert series brings.

Councilman Mike Chestnut said he would feel more comfortable giving the group $50,000.

The council chose to continue a final decision on accommodations tax grants at its Tuesday afternoon meeting, earmarking a special meeting for April 5 to discuss it further.

Carolina Country Music Fest is set for June 9-12 on the former Pavilion site with headliners Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Florida Georgia Line, as well as other national, regional and local artists.

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach council split on contributions to Carolina Country Music Fest."