Bed tax should support island's cultural offerings

As we settled into our seats recently for another great performance ("Six Dance Lessons in Six Days") at the South Carolina Repertory Company, the audience was told that it was unlikely the company would receive any funds from Hilton Head Island's accommodations tax collections in 2010. Not just a cut, but nothing. After nine years of support, nada. That's what we think of culture around here.

This is ridiculous. The recession certainly has caused cutbacks; the town only has half the funds that were available to it last year. Even so, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and the Concours d'Elegance car show managed to get recommendations for their usual healthy allocations, while the island's only two live theaters -- the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and the Repertory Company -- suffered serious cuts. In the case of the Repertory Company, it could be fatal.

The people who distribute accommodations tax money should remember that Hilton Head is more than golf and beaches. We also offer cultural events. Starving them of funds, even modest ones, is tantamount to cutting off our nose to spite our face.

Joseph Scheines

Hilton Head Island