Pawleys feeling economic crisis
Last Updated on 2/9/2010
Published on 11/18/2008
By Clayton Stairs
cstairs@gtowntimes.com
The current national economic crisis is showing its effects in the resort town of Pawleys Island.
Due to a reduction in Accommodations Tax (A-Tax) revenue in 2008, Pawleys Island Town Council has agreed to help the Pawleys Island Civic Association (PICA) pay for advertising to bring in more visitors next year. They voted unanimously to give PICA $15,000 for this purpose at their regular meeting Monday and to adjust their 2009 budget accordingly.
Alan Altman, representing PICA's advertising and promotion committee, spoke during the public input segment of the meeting. A partner in Pawleys Island Realty, he told Council members that it is very important that the Town promote itself regionally and nationally, especially on the Internet.
"Everyone is cutting back and vacations are one of the first things to be cut," Altman said. "Many people who have been regular two-week vacationers are now cutting back to one and some people who have been vacationing here for 30 years are saying they just can't do it this year."
He went on to say for many years the A-Tax revenue has grown an average of eight percent each year, but this year revenues are down. Thus, advertising dollars matter now more than ever.
"This is a unique place and we know we don't have everything everyone wants," Altman said. "One of our challenges will be to meet the expectations of people who are coming here for the first time."
Mayor Bill Otis added that A-Tax funds were substantially lower in 2008 because of a glitch in reporting of A-Tax revenue for 2007. He said a large entity reported its A-Tax income as "Pawleys Island" when it should have been listed on the mainland. As a result, funds that were awarded to Pawleys Island last year were deducted from this year's funds.
This, along with the decline in revenue from rentals on the island, has been like a one-two punch for PICA's advertising and promotion committee.
"Council agreed we would make this one-time contribution to the committee to offset this double hit," Otis said. "This is going to be a challenging year and it is critically more important to do effective promotion for island rental programs."
Two new planners
After the sudden passing of Joe Easley, the chair of the Pawleys Island Planning Commission, and a decision by long-time member Ed Martin to step down, Council voted to fill these two vacant positions. Bill Tuttle and Fran Greene have been chosen as the Town's two new planners.
Otis and Council presented Martin with a resolution which expressed the Town's appreciation for his serving 11 years on the commission. Otis read the resolution and shook Martin's hand.
"I was surprised and very pleased," Martin said. "I just decided I've been on the Planning Commission long enough and it is time to let somebody else do the work."
A World War II veteran and a retired engineer from Charlotte, N.C., Martin has lived on the island full-time for 11 years and has stayed active in the community that whole time. Otis says Martin will be missed on the commission.
"Ed provided very solid input to the Planning Commission as a member," Otis said. "During all of its deliberations, Ed has been very aware and supported the position that the ordinances on Pawleys Island should support maintaining the island as it was, as best it could in today's environment."
He adds that Tuttle and Greene, both of whom have lived on or around Pawleys Island for most of their lives, will be good additions to the commission.
"With many years of history on Pawleys Island and in the Pawleys Island community, they are both very sensitive to the unique needs of planning on the Island," Otis said. "They will both help to continue to support the character of Pawleys Island in the best way possible. We are delighted to have them as members of the Planning Commission and Council looks forward to working with them."
