Rick Taylor, the embattled executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, refused to release specifics this week about the commission’s recently-approved $7.9 million budget, claiming that no further details exist on how the monies will be spent – including an approved $500,000 increase in salaries.
Taylor, who is at the center of a State Auditor’s investigation surrounding his acceptance of more than $200,000 in illegal bonuses while leading the Hattiesburg Tourism Commission, said in an email to The PineBelt NEWS that the one-page budget analysis provided to the Hattiesburg City Council is “the exact document the Commission works from each Fiscal Year.”
With more than $6 million cash on hand – including $4.7 million generated by a 2% sales tax on all food and beverages purchased in the city limits – the budget analysis only includes four expense categories: Facilities Operations, Repairs, Professional Services and Marketing, and Staffing Costs.
According to Samantha McCain, spokesman for the City of Hattiesburg, no further documentation was provided to members of the council prior to them approving the budget last week. Taylor originally presented the proposed budget to the council earlier in the summer, but it was formally approved last week with no additional discussion.
In an email sent to Taylor last Tuesday, The PineBelt NEWS requested “a complete copy of the approved budget that itemizes the line items beyond just the top-level categories” as well as a breakdown of the $500,000 increase in wages. Taylor responded Friday evening that no specific breakdown would be provided.
Although Taylor continues to insist that no additional itemization detail exists, a review of the official minutes of the convention commission revealed that as a matter of routine, each meeting begins with a financial report given by Taylor that itemizes the monthly claims docket as well as a “budget report.”
A copy of the initial request from The PineBelt NEWS – along with Taylor’s written refusal – has been forwarded to the Mississippi Ethics Commission, the state-run agency tasked to enforce the state’s Public Records Act.
