Update: Lion's share of Bluffton ATAX revenue to go toward historic preservation

Efforts to preserve and promote Bluffton's past just got a boost.

The Bluffton Historical Preservation Society is in line to receive $50,000 in public money after town council approved quarterly accommodations tax funding requests Tuesday.

Four organizations -- Bluffton Historical Preservation Society, Farmers Market of Bluffton, Old Town Bluffton Merchants and the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce -- requested and received accommodations tax -- or ATAX -- money from the town.

The council voted to dole out a total of $86,142 to those groups.

The farmers market got $14,142, while the chamber and merchants were awarded $10,000 and $12,000 respectively.

The money, which must be used to pay for programs that promote tourism and attract visitors, comes from a 2 percent tax on overnight lodging collected by the state and redistributed to counties and municipalities.

Local organizations can request specific funding amounts to help pay for events and advertising.

The Bluffton Historical Preservation Society operates the historic Heyward House in Old Town, which serves as a welcome center for visitors interested in learning about Bluffton's past.

The money will be "used for operations of the Heyward House (and) capital improvements," according to a town memo.

The only group not to receive the full amount it requested was the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, which initially asked the council for $20,000.

The $10,000 approved for the chamber will be used to advertise the Taste of Bluffton festival.

Last year, the chamber got just over $7,000 in ATAX money for that festival.

Bret Anthony is the chairman of the town's Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee, which provides the council with recommendations as to how to divvy up ATAX revenue.

"The committee felt that to go from the $7,000 figure up to $20,000 was quite an increase," he said Tuesday. "The (funding request) wasn't proportionate to expected attendance (for the Taste of Bluffton). And while we are very supportive of the event, we thought a more modest increase was in line."

Follow reporter Lucas High on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.

Related content:

• Bluffton panel recommends ATAX funding for four local groups, Nov. 16, 2015

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Update: Lion's share of Bluffton ATAX revenue to go toward historic preservation."