Craven board to give $25,000 for New Bern anniversary celebration

Craven County will support New Bern's 300th-anniversary celebration with cash.

The Board of Commissioners voted this week to include $25,000 in the 2009-2010 budget to help advertise the anniversary events across the county. The board will also send a letter and the minutes of the meeting formally authorizing the county expenditure to the city and the 300th Anniversary Committee to assist in other fund-raising.

The authorization came on a mixed vote by commissioners, who had been asked for $250,000 to help support the historic 2010 celebration.

Some thought the total should be more, some less, some not at all.

"I'll be up front with you," said Commissioner Perry Morris. "I do not support giving tax money to the 300th birthday."

He said, and Commissioner Lee K. Allen agreed, that they do not want to be in a position requiring the county to deny a needed service or raise taxes "because I granted money to support a birthday party."

Allen said: "We all know what is happening in the economy right now. With the economy like it is, we may possibly have to raise taxes. There are a lot of questions and I have problems committing money for a party and not knowing where it will be spent."

Chairman Jason Jones said, "I don't want the Tourism Development Board controlling the money."

Commissioner Steve Tyson said the money would be spent not to support a party but to promote tourism for towns throughout the county.

Tyson said a successful celebration would bring in enough sales tax to make the investment worthwhile.

"This is like spending money to make money," he said. "You have to look at it from both sides."

Commissioners Johnnie Sampson and Theron McCabe said they supported providing at least $50,000.

Commissioner Renee Sisk agreed that some county support is appropriate and made a motion for that amount to be $25,000 to be used by the Convention and Tourism Center to promote Craven County during the 300th.

Tyson seconded the motion, which passed 5-2.

A motion offered by Sampson to provide $25,000 in each of two consecutive budget years did not pass.