TDC Chairman challenges use of tourism tax dollars for Gen. Chappie James memorial project

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Another roadblock when it comes to funding the General Daniel Chappie James Junior Memorial has popped up.

In February, county commissioners voted to use $750,000 in tourism tax to help fund the project.

The chair of the Tourist Development Council (TDC) says a memorial does not fall under the legal use for these dollars.

TDC Chairman David Bear wrote a letter to the Escambia County Board of Commissioners pushing back on using TDC money to fund the project.

Thursday, WEAR News met with the chairman to learn more about those concerns.

A 30-foot statue paired with a fighter jet and an American flag is all to honor Pensacola native and first African American four-star general, General Daniel Chappie James.

"I think it's a very important project," Bear said. "I would love to see the county support it."

Bear believes the tourism tax dollars should not be used to get it done.

Under county ordinances and state statutes, typical uses for TDC dollars would be for enhancing public facilities or promoting tourism — among several other uses.

A “memorial” is not listed as a use for these dollars. Chairman Bear says the construction of a memorial will not bring more people to the area.

He says once it's up and running, that is when it could support tourism.

The Haas Center conducted a study on the economic impact for the statue. It showed the project would have a short-term economic impact across a one-year period.

"The economic impact study just showed the only impact was to the construction industry," said Bear. "It was not for tourism and that's sort of the requirement, if you're going to be spending tourist development tax, that you should be developing tourism."

The study did not outline any specific impact the memorial would have on tourism.

At February's board meeting, county commissioners unanimously agreed to fund the project with TDC dollars, with the understanding the memorial is an "open-air museum."

But, Bear says it's not an open-air museum.

In his letter to Escambia County commissioners, Bear states the following.

The board cannot circumvent the unambiguous terms of the act, or it's own ordinances, merely by calling the memorial something that it isn't.

Commissioner Mike Kohler says the county clerk, all of the commissioners, and several lawyers agree it can be called an open-air museum.

"Everyone seemed to believe that we could get there," Kohler said. "And, you know, TDC doesn't believe that we can get there."

"I believe they have a right, though, to question the board and make us look at it," he said.

Bear says he does not want the county using any tourist development tax dollars for the project, saying commissioners and the foundation can turn to other sources for funding.

"They could start, and/or they could raise funds privately," said Bear. "That's what they had originally committed, was to fund this project through private donations only, and not any public dollars. And since then, they have raised mostly public dollars."

Kohler says he's unsure if he will move this agenda item to the board meeting later this month or push the item until April, when county commissioners meet with Pensacola city officials. He says he's in full support of the foundation's mission and is hopeful to keep the TDC dollars for the project.