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Tourism Assn. funnels $200K to city for special events, Weed says

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The Peachtree City Tennis Center wouldn’t have to operate at a deficit of about $93,000 next year if the city’s Tourism Association didn’t have to pay the city $200,000 from hotel-motel tax revenues, according to Tourism Association Chairman Murray Weed.

That payment is to cover staff time spent on various tourism related events like the Great Georgia Airshow, the Peachtree City Youth Triathlon and the July 4th parade and fireworks, said City Manager Bernie McMullen, who is also a member of the Tourism Association.

The airshow, for example, draws such large crowds that police officers must direct traffic and the fire department has several crews on hand to assist with injured persons and provide a quick first response should any significant emergency occur.

The tennis center’s projected shortfall would be covered by anticipated profit at the city’s amphitheater in the amount of $165,000. Tourism officials have been working to improve the tennis center’s deficit, and they are hopeful that they can attract more tournaments and the new Right On Thyme restaurant there will boost profits more than projected for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

The association’s budget, adopted earlier this month, includes a fully-funded executive director position although it has been vacant since former executive director Linda McCarthy left in June. Since then, the venues have been run by their respective directors and association members have worked more closely with staff on a regular basis.

More than $10,000 in the budget is necessary for repairing the locker rooms at the tennis center and another $14,500 in improvements is planned for the amphitheater, including replacing the kitchen grill, a new ice machine and replacing gutters and downspouts.