Despite continued revenue declines, the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau will increase advertising and marketing spending by more than 25 percent in the coming year, according to a 2010 budget approved by the directors Thursday.

“We’ve spent more on marketing this year than we ever had in the past, and we’re proposing that 48 percent of our total budget go toward advertising and promotions in 2010,” said Bill Seratt, director of the tourism development agency.

The operating budget approved Thursday is just under $1.2 million, including $225,000 in the bureau’s checking account. About $470,000 will go toward administrative salary and office expenses. Advertising spending will rise to $575,000 in 2010, from $454,000 spent this year — an increase of 26.6 percent.

The VCVB is funded via a 1 percent tax levied on area hotel, motel and bed and breakfast stays, as well as purchases at bars and restaurants in Vicksburg. Revenue from the tax reached an all time high in 2008, when slightly more than $1 million was collected by the VCVB.

“We came into this year anticipating flat revenue and it was off by 8 percent,” said Seratt of the collections, which netted $964,500 in 2009, “and I am not very optimistic about 2010 for any significant growth. But, there are markets up and down the river that are down considerably more than we are. Everybody is down.”  

Due to the reduced revenue, Seratt said he did not budget in any raises in the coming year for the VCVB’s six full-time and seven part-time employees. When Seratt took over as director in April 2007, he said about 30 percent of the bureau’s budget, which operates on a calendar year, was used on advertising. About 38 percent of the 2009 was dedicated to advertising. Several board members commended Seratt for dedicating more of the VCVB’s funds to advertising local events and tourism, one of several goals the board had set out in a marketing plan adopted this year.

“That’s our job, and that’s the thing I feel like we should be doing, so I’m very proud,” said Chairmain David Maggio.

A tightening of the belt in 2009 will free up some VCVB funds in 2010, as the budget shows expenses ran about 7 percent under budget this year overall — a savings of about $87,000.

The bureau has committed $150,000 in the coming year  to go toward its share of a joint move into the Levee Street Depot with the Vicksburg Main Street Program and a transportation museum. The city, which owns the building, has been meeting planning deadlines according to requirements of a $1.65 million grant awarded by the Mississippi Department of Transportation in 2007. Physical renovations on the 102-year-old depot building are expected to begin in 2010, with a tentative completion date slated for early 2011.

Aside from the VCVB’s $1.2 million operating budget, the bureau has approximately $393,000 set aside in a money market fund. The money for the move to the depot is to come from this fund.

Board members present were Maggio, Willie Glasper, Lamar Roberts, David Day, Elmerree Bradley, Bill Collins, Shirley Waring, Betty Bullard, Patti Cappaert, Annette Kirklin and Lori Burke.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com

On the agenda

Meeting Thursday, the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau board:

• OK’d meeting minutes from Nov. 12.

• Shelved a proposal to go to an ad-based visitor’s guide.

• OK’d up to $1,000 to pay for a February reception in Washington, D.C., for local delegates hosted by Vicksburg officials.

• OK’d donating various surplus items, including computer equipment and furniture, to River City Rescue Mission and Pleasant Valley M.B. Church.

The board is scheduled to meet next at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 at 3300 Clay St.