The City Advertising and Promotion Commission performed its mid-year budget review during their regular meeting last Wednesday, June 24 with some financial adjustments.
The budget for collections in 2026 was increased by $15,650 from $2,100,000 to $2,115,650 with collections higher than expected so far for the year. Folk Festival ticket sales income was lowered to reflect that two of the shows are produced in-house. Finance Director Ty Reed also noted that Eureka Springs Music Awards ticket sales.
Blues Weekend’s expense was also increased by $15,000 from $20,000 to $35,000. Reed explained that the event had been bigger than originally planned and that entertainment and marketing opportunities had presented themselves that the CAPC jumped on. Also increased was a $6,500 total bump in cost-of-living-adjustments for three staff members.
Reductions in the budget included items regarding weddings. Reed said that originally the CAPC had planned to attend a wedding event as well as host one, but they have changed to host one next year, lowering item 5033 Group Sales-Wedding Shows from $1,600 in the budget to $100. Also down is $5,000 in Group Travel Familiarity Tours as only one tour will be hosted this year rather than the two originally planned. The approved budget originally was $10,000. Reed also noted bumps in concession costs as well as slight reductions in conference and travel expenses.
Commissioners approved the mid-year budget review unanimously. Reed said he planned to hold another review in September or October.
Before the budget review, review of collections was positive with May’s tax remittance at $182,000 with a budget of $155,000 and YTD remittance of $669,000 with a budget of $636,000. Expenses in May were $116,000 with a budget of $208,000 and YTD $949,000 with a budget of $1,084,000.
Food and lodging collections Reed noted that Food & Lodging collections in April were $174,000 compared to 2025’s $152,000 with a cumulative $554,000 compared to 2025 at $501,000. Of those collections, lodging accounted for $79,000 in April compared to last years $69,000 and a YTD of $248,000 compared to $217,000 last year.
Mike Maloney covered the CAPC’s efforts in the Director’s report including that two staff members would be going to Washington, DC for America250 from June 26 – 28. They’d join other staff of the state of Arkansas as well as A&P peers during the 10-day event.
Maloney also covered the CAPC’s focus on mountain biking, weddings, groups, family and entertainment travelers, matching with the state’s intentions. He said family travelers are more likely to stay multiple days and that the CAPC was exploring elopement packages to help bring more weddings to town, though nothing was set in stone. He explained that both on the CAPC website and state websites that “things to do” for travelers was a major draw in web presence and the CAPC would be integrating itineraries for different types of travelers into state websites.
The CAPC will be switching over to Stubs.net for ticketing services. Maloney said the ticketing fee was lower and if the event is free, the ticketing service is also free while still allowing the CAPC to get data from ticketing. Stubs is used both by George’s Majestic Lounge and Hillberry.
Commissioner Robert Schmid asked Maloney about the lack of printed guides and brochures from the state, criticizing the state’s current, singular guide as being “too global.” Maloney said Schmid was not the first person to question the state’s decision to pull all brochures and guides for specific kinds of travelers (motorcyclists, mountain bikers, etc.)
Other Items
- Commissioners moved into a brief executive session to discuss the at-large seat that has seven applications for it. No decision was made and further discussion was postponed until the next meeting. Seat 1, which is not the at-large position, only has one applicant.
- Steve Holifield and Heather Wilson-Vinson were removed from check signing, and Susane Gruning was added on.
- Danny Watson gave public comment on his application for the at-large position. Watson went over his career history including a Bachelor of Arts, building a business that includes lodging, festival, media, and merchandising here in Eureka Springs, and his want to push for families and to grow tourism in town.