The City of Gaffney's Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee recommended Wednesday awarding money to 11 organizations.

The committee is responsible for recommending how Gaffney City Council should dole out the $29,000 in A-Tax monies the city can disperse this year. Council must still approve the recommendations.

A-tax monies are a 2 percent surcharge on hotel stays.

The committee heard from representatives from each organization a week earlier. The committee said Wednesday the amount each organization would receive is based on the average of each committee member's recommendation.

As usual, the highly-visible South Carolina Peach Festival was the largest recipient, receiving $10,000 in A-Tax revenue. The festival will use the money to promote this year's events.

The Downtown Business Association received the next largest appropriation of $3,500. The association plans to spend the money on a billboard for the Michael Gaffney cabin and on the city's downtown Christmas celebration.

CHAPS (Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society) will spend its $3,000 on a billboard project.

The Veterans Day Organization, Veteran's Museum and Gaffney Little Theater each received $2,000 for their tourist-related projects.

The remaining recommendations include: Broad River Power Association, $1,500; Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, $1,500; Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Foundation, $1,500; Cherokee Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA), $1,500; and Friends of Cowpens, $500.

American Legion Post 201, Morgan's Victory March and the Arts Council received no A-Tax money.

A majority of the committee members felt those organizations didn't meet the A-Tax qualifications, which require the organizations to spend the money on tourismrelated events or items in Gaffney.

City Council will consider the recommendations at its June 2 meeting.

SHOW ME THE MONEY

Here's how the committee recommends the $29,000 in A-Tax money be distributed:

SC Peach Festival: $10,000

Gaffney Downtown Business Association: $3,500

CHAPS (Cherokee Historical and Preservation Society): $3,000

Veterans Day Organization: $2,000

Veteran's Museum: $2,000

Gaffney Little Theater: $2,000

Broad River Power Association: $1,500

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade: $1,500;

Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Foundation: $1,500

Cherokee Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA): $1,500

Friends of Cowpens: $500