Update: Richland County Hospitality Tax Proposal Deferred

Update: Richland County Council deferred voting on second reading of a hospitality tax proposal that would have reduced funding for the Columbia Museum of Art, Historic Columbia Foundation and EdVenture Children’s Museum.

Council will discuss the plan at a work session on June 13.

Original story, Thursday at 3:50 p.m.: Three Richland County organizations are in danger of losing some of its funding should county council members approve a plan that would use restaurant-tax funds for other gropus that bring in visitors to the area.

Richland County Council will review hospitality tax proposals tonight including one from chairman Kelvin Washington to build $44 million in new projects outside the city of Columbia limits, according to a report from The State. 

The plan "would spread tourist dollars to smaller, regional sites and programs, in part by borrowing money that would then be repaid from restaurant-tax money," according to The State.

Under Washington's proposal, the 2013-2014 fiscal year operating budgets for the Columbia Museum of Art, Historic Columbia Foundation and EdVenture Children’s Museum would be cut in order to fund other groups such as the Renaissance Foundation and the Township Auditorium.

Read more from The State here (subscription required).

In communications to supporters, both EdVenture and the Historic Columbia Foundation say their services would suffer if the budget reductions were approved.

"Without an equitable increase, the children, families and schools we serve will be undermined and EdVenure's reputation as a world-class educational institution will suffer," Catherine Wilson Horne, EdVenture's president/ceo said in a notification to supporters. 

Council meets today at 6 p.m. at the Richland County Administration Building, 2020 Hampton Street.