It was a little strange when Columbia’s Black Expo did not get any hospitality tax money this year. The event, which features exhibits, entertainment and motivational speakers, uses the money to advertise. But during the application process, their finances had not been audited, which made the hospitality tax committee nervous. In a rare move, the tax committee decided to hold $50,000 in reserve for the Black Expo and release it once the audited numbers were available – which they were on December 17. Council members approved it, and the Black Expo got their $50,000.
“They did not want to put their stamp on it without proper documentation,” said Libby Gober, who manages the hospitality tax fund for the city. “But they showed their commitment to the expo by saving the money for them.”
Adam Beam covers the City of Columbia for
One Comment
White Expo – when will we see one of these. The government shouldn’t promote this with 5 dollars as it is exclusive in racial nature. What about someone mixed?
Bad practice and it is done under racial pressure. How did we ever get this way, to be pressured by the blacks to give them special treatment over the red white or brown? Bad news.