Budgets and financials were the bread and butter of the City Advertising and Promotion Commission’s first meeting of 2022 on Jan. 4 that had been originally scheduled for Jan. 12.
Tourism Director Madison Dawson presented commissioners with a 2022 budget proposal, saying the budget had gone up to $1,796,000 and that was conservative.
Budgeted total media expenses increased by $24,000 from $616,200 to $640,200. Total production, Auditorium and Office expenses budgets followed the same trend. Total production budget increased by $88,250 from $474,750 to $563,000. The Auditorium budget increased by $10,900, from $113,100 to $124,000 and office expenses increased by $25,550, from $300,950 to $326,500.
Dawson explained that part of the increased budget for production needs was due to the CAPC needing to rebuild all three websites. She also said that there were savings through cutting employee and travel expenses, as well as the move of the main office to the Aud.
Commissioner Carol Wright asked why Event Grants were a zeroed item in the 2022 budget where there had been $23,500 budgeted in 2021, but only $500 used. Dawson said that there was no program or guidelines for how the CAPC can handle event grants. She proposed that they could award grants to groups for catering, hotel rooms, etc., and keeping it separate from marketing support, but it would be something she would need to look into more thoroughly to see if it would be legal.
Wright also spoke of her wish for more than $40,000 to be allocated for the Folk Festival, saying that next year would be the 75th year and a need for it to be a major event.
The 2022 budget proposed budget passed unanimously.
In speaking on November and December financial statements Finance Director Scott Bardin told commissioners that they may reach $2 million in total income with the Year-To-Date food, beverage and lodging collections. That’s up in November by $194,000 in comparison to the 2021 budget of $1,708,000 and up in December by $235,099 with one month left of collections.
Workshop plans in motion
Topic planning for the Jan. 12 workshop was also a major point with Folk Festival and auditorium repairs of note.
Nancy Paddock gave a glowing report for the Folk Festival saying that the event had brought many people to town. She said the free show with Melissa Carper had raised $800 for People Helping People, and Flint Street Food Bank left with a truck full of donations. She also said the Todd Snyder and Gangstagrass shows had been well attended.
When asked about dates for next year Paddock mentioned that it was hard to put on the event two weeks before Thanksgiving, citing weather as a main issue. During the 2021 Folk Festival, music in Basin Park had to be moved to Main Stage. She suggested last weekend of May or a weekend in August as alternatives but that November would work since the Folk Festival is traditionally in the fall. She iterated that planning for the weather was imperative.
Commmissioner Melissa Greene asked for the dates of next year’s Folk Festival be discussed at the workshop.
Auditorium repairs were also put on the agenda for the workshop. Commssioner Harry Meyer mentioned the stage left doorway in the Auditorium needed repaired. Chair Jeff Carter said they could make a list of all needed repairs at the workshop so they could all be fixed at once.
Other Items
- The commission will keep with their schedule of two meetings and one workshop monthly.
- Greene suggested making Scott Bardin a full-time employee as there are some weeks in a year he works more than 29 hours a week.
- Greene requested that Carter speak with a CAPC commissioner that has failed to come to three consecutive meetings.