Fayetteville A&P seeks AG’s opinion on donation
by July 20, 2012 4:53 pm 108 views
FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission will seek an opinion from the state Attorney General’s office about whether it can use its hotel/motel/restaurant (HMR) tax money toward a University of Arkansas project.
The UA needs the project — the historic men’s field house to be transformed into a beautiful 600-seat concert hall — to hold performances squeezed out of their rightful place at the Walton Arts Center.
University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart asked the commission to consider gifting $1 million to the project over three years. Total cost is about $17 million. Gearhart told the commission that the venue would bring more visitors to the area, thus more HMR taxes to collect.
Using figures derived from research by the UA’s Walton College of Business, the chancellor said there was potential for the city to bring in an extra $1.9 million a year from out-of-towners.
The A&P’s executive director, Marilyn Heifner, said she will solicit a legislator to make the official request with the state Attorney General’s Office.