Underdog Militia Report

Last week I first read about a concerted push for an increase in the hotel tax in York County from 3 percent to 5 percent. I talked about it in my podcast.

It turns out the BS is deeper than I thought.

Two of the three York County commissioners voted to spend $40,000 of tax money on a tourism ad promoting York County. Then I find out the $40,000 was part of a $50,000 ad proposed by John Riggle, who happens to own a marketing firm. Mr Riggle allegedly contributed $2,000 toward the ad, with the remaining $8,000 coming from the York County Economic Development Corp.

The ad ran on TV and radio in May, and it contained a toll free number. Now you think that is bad enough?

The toll free number of the ad went to one and ONLY one local hotel company, Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center. Any one calling the number would only be able to book reservations to Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center.

Now one of the commissioners was quoted as saying the $40,000 would be paid for from the increase in the hotel tax, even though it hasn’t passed yet. That tax will apply to all hotels, motels, inns, and bed & breakfast’s in York County. So, even though they are all being taxed, only that one company is benefiting. I smell kickback.

I consider spending tax dollars against revenue that hasn’t been realized yet is misappropriation of funds and breach of fiduciary duty, at least. You see they voted to spend the money before the legislature even approved an increase in the hotel tax rate. Even if it didn’t just benefit one company and the tax was passed I would be against it.

Then we have Mike Haugh, owner of the Altland House Hospitality Group, agreed with it. He said, “Any way we can push tourism, I’m in favor of it. If one benefited from it one time, maybe someone else benefits another time.”
Ok I will never do business with the Altland House Hospitality Group again.

Finally there is that piece of crap Tom Donley, president of the York County Chamber of Commerce. It turns out the Chamber of Commerce was approached to fund the ad.
“We just weren’t in our position in our budget to do that this year,” he said.
However he did support raising the hotel tax and using the money to run the ad.

I’m planning a more in dept article about the York County Chamber of Commerce, and the national Chamber of Commerce in the future.

Related posts:

1. York city wants to abolish one way streets.
2. Hugh Stanley Rebert loses republican primary!
3. An experiment in funding