Famously Hot New Year wants more money from Richland County

Richland County Council will consider tonight whether to give additional money to Columbia’s annual Famously Hot New Year celebration. But if it decides to do so, council members will have to figure out where the money will come from.

Councilwoman Julie-Ann Dixon has requested an extra $89,000 hospitality tax funding for the downtown New Year’s Eve event, in addition to the $11,000 in hospitality and accommodations taxes already approved by council during its original budget process.

However, only $10,000 remains unassigned in the county’s hospitality tax budget, according to county staff. Plus, the county has received multiple funding requests for that unallocated money.

The county’s hospitality tax is a 2 percent tax on prepared meals dedicated to funding tourism projects.

The additional $89,000 would take the county’s funding for Famously Hot New Year up to $100,000, matching last year’s contribution. The city has spent $130,000 in hospitality tax funds for the event both this year and last year.

Council will take up the proposal for Famously Hot New Year tonight at its 6 p.m. meeting in council chambers at 2020 Hampton St., Columbia.

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Famously Hot New Year wants more money from Richland County."