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5 <br /> Mr. Schilling said he would agree on both counts, r educing the funding to the <br />Bureau and applying the same logic to CTS. Mr. Schilling noted that the County's share <br />is lower and asked if this is tied to the number of hotels in the City. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that it makes the formula proportional to hotels in the City and <br />County. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said that at some point funding peaks out. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would split the difference, increasing the amount to the Bureau <br />by a smaller amount and increasing the lodging tax. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards asked what the down s ide would be to doing this. She said if the <br />funding does not match then we would be penalizing hotels. She said that the hotels <br />believe that the more we invest in the Bureau the better their business. Ms. Richards said <br />this supports the new program they have outlined. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox agreed with Ms. Richards. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Schilling, Mr. Watts said that the local hotel <br />occupancy rate is 11% above the national average. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling suggested that we cut the occupancy tax by one cent and boost the <br />occupancy rate. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he would like to equally fund WVPT and WHTJ, giving them <br />both $1,030. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she does not disagree with Mr. Caravati's suggestion. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Lynch about McGuffey, Ms. Pea cock said that <br />HVAC costs are expected to increase. She said the amount allocated to McGuffey to pay <br />was backed out and their rent was increased by 25%. She said this covers utilities and <br />other operations. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch questioned whether this is equitable . <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati explained that the City's share for the jail is larger because it is based <br />on arrests made in the City. <br /> <br /> It was agreed that additional funding for CCCA would be discussed at the next <br />work session. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said one potential reduction is to reduce the $12,500 funding for the <br />Thomas Jefferson Partnership for Economic Development. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said this is one place that we come together as a region on <br />economic development, and noted that this is mostly for marketing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch noted that Albemarle County does not contribute to the Partnership. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he would not cut funding for TJPED, and said he feels it is well <br />worth the cost of membership. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she feels the same way about TJPED as she does about the <br />Health Department, that she would like to get periodic reports from them. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said that with all due respect to those who have put time into the <br />Integrated Systems Project (City Link), he finds it alarming, after reviewing the Maximus <br />Return on Inves tment, that the stated net benefit to the City is less than $1 million over <br />ten years. He does not agree that the stated overriding reason for spending $18 million <br />on this project, "The City will not achieve the world - class status it seeks without re - <br />