The Mount Airy Tourism Development Authority approved a budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year yesterday that starts with about $30,000 less in occupancy tax revenue than anticipated.

“Our revenue is down, but our expense is up, so we need to live within our means this year,” Zack Blackmon Jr., the chairman of the TDA, said Monday.

John Overton, the finance officer for Mount Airy who is also a member of the board, said that revenue from the occupancy tax since April has been down 16 percent compared to that of the same time last year.

Last month, Overton said it’s hard to predict what the TDA could expect from the occupancy tax because of the recession, but he estimated a revenue of $270,000 instead of the $300,000 budgeted amount. The occupancy tax rate is 6 percent.

According to the budget message prepared by Jessica Icenhour, the director of tourism at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, the recommended budget includes a fund balance of $50,905. The document stated that with the downturn in the economy, the current estimated revenues for the 2009-2010 will be insufficient to fully fund the estimated costs of operating the visitor center, payment to the Surry Arts Council and other tourism development expenditures for 2009-2010.

The board said its annual $30,000 commitment to Surry Arts Council for the Blackmon Amphitheatre will end after the 2009-2010 fiscal year. In the statement, Icenhour recommended that the existing fund balance be used to bridge that gap in the short term.

The recommended budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year is $322,105, which includes $270,000 from the city of Mount Airy, $1,200 from investment earnings and the $50,905 fund balance.

Board member Rich Kunkel and Icenhour said that they were interested in providing new furnishings for the visitor center, which is being renovated and expected to open in mid- or late July. The furnishings include new brochure racks, which would be free of charge through a contract with Profile Displays, benches, area rugs and a redesigned receptionist area. Kunkel estimated that the costs would be between $2,000 to $4,000.

He said he didn’t think it would make a “substantial difference” in the existing budget. Overton, the finance officer, suggested that Icenhour review the budget to see if the anticipated cost of furnishings could be worked in without changing the recommended budget amount. If it does, the board will call a special meeting to discuss the budget again.

Kunkel said the new furnishings will help the visitors center be more user-friendly for visitors.

“Simplicity is good, we don’t want them to come and spend their day there, we want them to come in and get their literature so they can spend the their money in the community,” he said.

Icenhour also mentioned that the TDA will be partnering with The Mount Airy News to develop a tourism guide whose content would be provided by Icenhour. She said the guide would have coupons and “be geared toward having (money saving) values” for families.

The board’s next scheduled quarterly meeting is Oct. 7.

Contact Erin C. Perkins at eperkins@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.