Members of the Civic Auditorium Complex Commission, the group that oversees the operation of the Pine Bluff Convention Center met Tuesday, two days after a story in the Pine Bluff Commercial reported the possibility of the Convention Center losing $300,000 in funds from the hamburger tax next year.
The Advertising and Promotion Commission receives the tax proceeds, and this year budgeted $1.3 million for the Convention Center.
Convention Center Director Barbara Dunn was asked about the report and said this.
Dunn was asked what effect that kind of cut would have on convention center operations.
Sherrie Story, the Executive Director of the A&P Commission said that the 2026 A&P budget has not been set yet so she couldn’t say how much of a cut, if any, the convention center could face next year.
On another subject, Dunn provided commissioners with a list of renovations and upgrades that have been undertaken between Aug. 20, 20224, when she was named as director, and Aug. 20 of this year.
That list included adding security cameras, removing water fountains, painting and striping the parking lot and cutting trees, and totaled over $250,000. The City of Pine Bluff and the A&P Commission helped provide funding for those projects.
She also said a construction company had been asked to evaluate the building and recommend renovations and improvements to the building in preparation for the opening of the new hotel and she explained why.
Dunn said she has asked two other companies to offer estimates on renovations and will report back when she receives them.
