Our Operations
The Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority’s success is due, in large part, to how it approaches its customer service and fiscal responsibilities. Always working within the confines of existing resources, the FCCFA reinvests revenues into improvements of its properties and new developments that make Columbus more attractive to visitors.
Unlike many other such organizations, the FCCFA is completely self-sustaining, relies on no government entity and is supported by revenues generated by visitors – not through income, sales, property, or food and beverage taxes on local residents. The organization has never operated at a deficit and has managed a steady flow of revenues by investing them back into capital improvements.
Schedule of Board Meetings
To view the schedule of our upcoming Board Meetings please click here.
FCCFA Annual Audit
FCCFA Operating and Capital Budget
Hotel/Motel Tax Collections
When the Franklin County Commissioners established the FCCFA in 1988, they authorized it to levy excise taxes on lodging to pay for constructing, operating, maintaining, expanding and administering the Convention Center. The first excise tax the FCCFA levied, in October 1988, was a 4 percent countywide bed tax on occupied hotel and motel rooms. In January 1989 the FCCFA, with approval from the City of Columbus, levied a second tax of .9 percent on occupied rooms within the city of Columbus.
Both taxes are still in effect and are used to pay principal and interest on funds borrowed to build and improve the Convention Center. Funds remaining after paying debt service are used to help operate, maintain and improve the Convention Center, as well as to meet other FCCFA financing needs.
Columbus Arena Management and Casino Tax Revenues
In March 2012, the City of Columbus, Franklin County, Nationwide Realty Investors, Columbus Blue Jackets, The Ohio State University and the FCCFA agreed on a plan to strengthen Nationwide Arena’s financial foundation and ensure that the facilities remained a valuable community asset. Under the agreement, the FCCFA purchased the arena and its related facilities for $42.5 million, and a new entity called Columbus Arena Management was formed to manage the arena.
FCCFA financed the purchase by borrowing $32.5 million from Nationwide Insurance and $10 million from the State of Ohio. The FCCFA borrowed an additional $11.7 million from Nationwide to support arena operations in 2012 and initial capital improvements.
Casino Tax Collections
Voters approved the creation of four Ohio casinos in 2009, and the state levied a 33 percent tax on all gross casino revenues. Casino tax collections are distributed to a number of entities, including Ohio counties and cities. As part of the agreement, the city and county in 2013 began forwarding to the FCCFA a portion of casino tax collections as lease/sublease payments for the arena.
The amount is equal to 25 percent of the casino tax revenue Franklin County and the City of Columbus for 2013 through 2015, and will increase by 1 percent each year until FCCFA’s share reaches 32 percent in 2022. These tax revenues are first used to pay for operating and capital expenses associated with the arena; if casino revenues exceed operating and capital expenses, they also can be used to cover debt service obligations.
Records Retention Schedule
To view the FCCFA’s Records Retention Schedule, click here.
Passenger Rail Station Study
To view the Greater Columbus Passenger Rail Station Study Final Report click here.
Board Committees
Jacquelin Lewis, Chair
Emmett Kelly
Joe Savarise
Michael Shannon
Richard (Ike) Stage
Greg Davies, Chair
Ray DeGraw
Rodney French
Emmett Kelly
Brian Ross
Joe Savarise
Janica Pierce Tucker
Ray DeGraw, Chair
Rodney French
Jacquelin Lewis
Geri Lombard
Joe Savarise
Michael Shannon
Janica Pierce Tucker
Geri Lombard, Chair
Greg Davies
Emmett Kelly
Brian Ross
Joe Savarise
Richard (Ike) Stage
Joe Savarise
