THOMASVILLE — Because the event center issue has not been resolved, Thomas County Commission wants hotel/motel tax earmarked for the facility returned, the county manager said.

The commission is asking for 1.5 percent of the tax to be returned to county government, said county manager Mike Stephenson.

Stephenson said he would not comment further on the matter until he receives requested information in writing from the City of Thomasville.

At a city council workshop last week, Tim Sanders, city attorney, said the county will be restricted on how returned money can be used.

Sanders recommended the council entertain a motion to return the money.

In 2016, the Georgia Legislature approved a local hotel/motel tax increase from 5 percent to 8 percent.

The additional 3 percent tax is divided equally between tourism product development (TPD) and tourism, trade shows and conventions (TCT).

Information provided by the city shows that through Sept. 30, 2018, the city and county collected a total of $265,315. Of that, the TPD revenue collected— for an event center — was $153,572.21 by the city and $111,742.56 by the county.

“The city has reserved this funding in an event center account for proposed future event center development,” said Lynn Williams, assistant city manager communications/economic development. “The county has asked us to refund that portion of the tax.”

Property at South Dawson Street and Remington Avenue purchased by the city five years ago was discussed as the site for an event center. The land was transferred to the Thomasville Payroll Development Authority (PDA) earlier this year.

The PDA has approved a Marriott hotel for the site. An event center is not in the hotel plan.