It's Good to Be the King, ...or the "Tourism Development Authority"

This entire story strikes me as absurd.

StarNews:

The proposed $3.4 million tourism budget increased by 6.5 percent, with funds coming from room occupancy tax revenues, administrative fees and a $288,960 contribution from the city of Wilmington to market the Wilmington Convention Center.

At Tuesday's TDA meeting, visitors bureau President Kim Hufham said the total increase in revenues will add up to 8 percent when the fiscal year ends June 30.

[...]The CVB [Stands for something like Cape Fear Coastal Convention Center and Visitors Bureau] uses half of room occupancy tax revenues for administration and marketing expenses.

[...]The proposed budget includes a 4 percent increase in expenses and a 4 percent increase in salaries and benefits for the staff at the Wilmington Cape Fear Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A cost-of-living increase will be added to salaries[...]

Also, the CVB moved its office from a Third Street location to an office near the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and the Wilmington Convention Center, resulting in $43,474 in rent – 46-percent more than the former location. (Sound sirens *Insane! Insane!* *Alert! Alert!*)

That is $13,698 higher than the former rent. I don't now whether that's per month, per year or what.