by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The Tourist Development Council agreed Thursday to take on the salaries of three Jacksonville Economic Development Commission staff members, but not all of the ancillary expenses being proposed.
Under the agreement, Mike Bouda of the Sports and Entertainment Commission, Todd Roobin of the Film & Television Commission and Sandy Ilog — who splits her time between the two — will remain employed by the JEDC. However, their salaries — $201,700 annually including benefits — will be paid by the TDC on a one-time basis. In total, the TDC agreed to pay for $284,562 (the three staffers plus event expenses) of the $464,562 on the table.
The changes are part of a streamlining process prosed a couple of weeks ago by JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton at a City Council Finance Committee budget hearing. At the time, Barton said the mayor’s office approached him about ways he could trim his budget and staff. Overall, the JEDC eliminated 10 positions for a savings of $1.4 million.
Council President Daniel Davis said those cuts were tough decisions, but the right decisions. He said then he felt the JEDC was doing a good job of bringing higher quality projects to Council for approval, but he felt it could be done more efficiently. Davis, however, did not agree with not funding the entire $464,562 and vowed to make sure the request was a one-time occurrence.
“I commit to help Mr. Barton raise the other $180,000,” said Davis.
Both Bouda and Roobin presented their cases based on the economic impacts their respective commissions have on the area. Bouda said this fiscal year 375,000 people came to town for sporting events that had an economic impact of $120 million.
“Sometimes the room nights are not as high as you’d like, but the exposure is tremendous,” said Bouda. “If you lose these events, you lose them forever.”
Bouda said 5-10 years ago Jacksonville was the city looking to secure events like the ACC football title game, the ACC baseball tournament and next weekend’s Florida State-Alabama game. Now, he said, other cities are looking to steal those games and tournaments from Jacksonville.
“We are getting these events because of our facilities,” said Bouda.
Roobin said in the current fiscal year the film and television industry in Jacksonville will generate a little over $6 million, 3,436 room nights and 1,041 jobs. Last year, the industry generated $5.3 million and 1,317 room nights. In the coming months, HBO will shoot the movie “Recount” in Jacksonville.
“That will produce 4,000 room nights and have a $4.5 million economic impact with $2.5 million of that in labor,” said Roobin. “Eight of my 12 hours a day I am dealing with logistics for that event.”
Jacksonville & the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau President John Reyes said the local film industry provides the CVB with a marketing tool.
“The film industry helps us and we have a strong bond,” said Reyes. “It generates future room nights.”
Barton stressed the importance of both commissions and urged the TDC to look at both as economic development and tourism opportunities.
“We wouldn’t have made this proposal if we didn’t think there was a relationship between those functions and the TDC and the CVB,” said Barton, who also stressed the need to fund the events the TDC turned down. “We have already won those events. We can’t walk away from them. They need to be funded.”
TDC member Fred Pozin approved of the agreement, but not before questioning whether the funding requests were going to become annual discussions. Like others, Pozin is worried about what will happen after the voters go to the polls Jan. 29 and either approve or vote down the property tax amendment.
“Next year, there may be harder decisions,” said Pozin.
Gator Bowl Association President Rick Catlett was on hand and was asked if the GBA had ever given any thought to taking on the sports commission. Catlett said he has had discussions with the mayor’s office about that in the past.
“The mayor’s opinion is that they can do it in house and that it’s better for the government than to contract with the Gator Bowl Association,” said Catlett.
Davis said the Jan. 29 vote may dictate the economic future of Jacksonville for years to come.
“It will either be a nuclear winter or we’ll make it through OK,” said Davis.