Tourism Development Authority to look at Playhouse promotion again

Don't forget--the Tourism Development Authority would be using taxpayer money for this promotion. From the Hendersonville Lightning:

The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority will take another crack at a Flat Rock Playhouse promotion that it emphatically rejected last month.

The tourism promoting agency is scheduled to consider for a second time during its monthly meeting this week [ed.- the meeting is today, Dec. 18, at 2:00 p.m.] whether to buy a block of Playhouse tickets to promote longer hotel stays by tourists.

Playhouse officials have been invited to the TDA meeting on Tuesday to give an update on the theater's financial situation and the 2013 season, TDA chairman David Nicholson said.

"They will expect us to talk about the tickets," he said. "I expect us to have a pretty good discussion."

The tourism authority last month said no to the proposal presented by Executive Director Beth Carden and Nicholson to buy up to $50,000 worth of Playhouse tickets that hotels and inns could use to induce longer stays. A set amount for the program has not been determined but Cardin showed projections for buying $25,000 and $50,000 worth of tickets and how much increased room nights would boost occupancy tax proceeds. The board turned down the Playhouse ticket idea and spent about 20 minutes talking about the financial trouble, the management and the losses the theater had incurred since 2010....

Nicholson said the argument for the ticket promotion is that it would provide a guaranteed source of income for the Playhouse while also inducing visitors to stay longer, helping the lodging industry and businesses that depend on tourism. The board meets at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Visitors Center....

Read it all, but I'm a little confused by this:

Nicholson said the argument for the ticket promotion is that it would provide a guaranteed source of income for the Playhouse.

Does this just mean that because the Playhouse will sell a certain amount now to the TDA that this specific amount is guaranteed? Or does it mean this might become an on-going promotion? Hey, because by now you should know how I feel about a taxpayer-backed "guaranteed source of income" for any non-profit.