Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee

The Accommodations Tax Committee is an advisory committee that advises City Council on the expenditure of local accommodations tax funds for the purpose of promoting tourism, the arts and cultural affairs in the community.

The advisory committee consists of seven (7) members, with a majority being selected from the hospitality industry of the City of Isle of Palms. At least two (2) of the members must be from the lodging industry and one (1) member shall represent the cultural organizations. Appointed members shall serve terms of three (3) years. Residents interested in serving on this Committee may submit an online application.  

 

ATAX Grant Applications 

 

The City of Isle of Palms is accepting applications from organizations wishing to receive grants from the 2% state accommodations tax fund.

South Carolina law allows for a 2% tax levy on the rental of all transient accommodations to help provide financial support to promote tourism and fund tourism-related activities in municipalities and counties within the state. Individuals staying overnight in hotels, motels, inns, and vacation rentals pay 2% in addition to the statewide sales tax and any local sales and use tax applied to their lodging cost. State law establishes that funds from accommodations taxes must be used to attract and provide for tourists and must be spent on tourism-related expenditures.

Applicant Workshop: The City will host a workshop on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of the workshop is to review application guidelines and criteria and assist potential applicants with completing the applications.

Application Deadline: The ATAX grant application must be submitted electronically to Nicole DeNeane, City Clerk, at nicoled@iop.net no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 2, 2024. 

Application: ATAX Grant Application available here.

Eligible Projects: Eligible projects include advertising and promotion, promotion of arts and cultural events for the attraction of tourists, construction, maintenance, and operations of facilities for civic and cultural events, public facilities and visitor centers.

Application Process: Applicants must review the application approved by the local ATAX Committee available here: Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee | City of Isle of Palms, SC (iop.net). Applications received by the deadline will be reviewed by staff for compliance with state law and these guidelines to determine eligibility. The applicants passing the initial review will be asked to make a presentation to the ATAX Committee.

Applicant Presentations: The presentations are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., March 12, 2024.

The ATAX Committee will meet on April 16, 2024, to make grant award recommendations to City Council. The recommendations will be presented to City Council for inclusion in the FY25 Budget.

Application Timeline:

Action:

Date:

Advertise Solicitation/Request for Applications

December 1, 2023

ATAX Application Workshop for interested applicants

1:00 p.m., January 12, 2024

Application Deadline

February 2, 2024

Staff reviews applications for compliance

February 5 – 9, 2024

Applicants notified of presentation to ATAX

February 9, 2024

Applicant interviews/presentations before ATAX Committee

March 12, 2024

 

ATAX Committee Meeting to Finalize Award Recommendations

April 16, 2024

ATAX Committee recommendations presented to City Council

April 23, 2024

 

Grant Award notifications

June 1, 2024

Council approved ATAX Applications included in the FY24 Budget

FY24 Budget July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Mid-year reports

January 31, 2025

Final Reports

July 1, 2025

 

Members

  • Chas Akers (At-large) - Term Expires 12/31/2025
  • Barb Bergwerf (Arts & Culture) - Term Expires 12/31/2025
  • Ray Burns (Lodging) - Chair Term Expires 12/31/2026
  • Park Williams (At-Large) - Term Expires 12/31/2026
  • Rebecca Kovalich (Lodging)- Term Expires 12/31/2026
  • Mike Boykin (Hospitality)- Term Expires 12/31/2025
  • Chrissy Lorenz (Hospitality)- Term Expires 12/31/2025

 ATAX Committee approved guidelines for eligibility.