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During the economic boom years, it was simple for the Orchard City to waive fees and staffing costs for community spirit events, such as the Bunnies and Bonnets Parade, Carol of Lights and Eggstravaganza. Now Campbell, like other cities throughout the West Valley, is looking at its budget and finding itself confronted with tough choices on a once-benign issue.
One of those choices is determining how much to increase the fees groups pay to stage events in town.
In Campbell the fees and support services charged for community events will increase from 30 percent to 50 percent. The Campbell City Council on Nov. 15 unanimously approved the increase in the fees, which will be paid by seven groups during the 2005-06 fiscal year. Two events, Carol of Lights and Kiwanis Eggstravaganza, will pay the 50 percent cost for the support services, but the fee to hold the event will be waived because these events are not fundraisers.
"This is a painful decision," Councilman Dan Furtado said. "We were hopeful things would turn around sooner economically, but it hasn't happened as quickly as we would have liked."
He acknowledged that the increase in fees was difficult to ask of groups such as the Campbell Chamber of Commerce that sponsors Boogie on the Bayou and Oktoberfest, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and the County Woman's Club Crab and Pasta Feed. But all the cities have similar budgetary issues, he said.
Furtado pointed out that there are sacrifices being made across the board.
"We have 16 employee positions in the city that are frozen," he said, "and there have been no salary increases to employees."
If the city waived event fees and support services, it would cost Campbell more than $87,000. Even with a partial increase in fees, the city will collect only approximately $39,000.
Furtado did, however, listen to the pleas of Lloyd Taylor, who helps organize the Bunnies and Bonnets Parade every year.
The recreation department wanted the parade, like the Eggstravaganza and Carol of Lights to pay 50 percent of the support services. In the past these fees were fully waived because the events were not fundraisers.
Taylor argued that he simply would not be able to put on the event if he had to come up with $2,500. The city already waived approximately $4,900 in fees and staffing costs.
Furtado said he would be amenable to a one-time waiver because the event is so early in the year--March--and there isn't enough time to solicit funding.
"This would give the group a chance to come up with a creative solution for next year," he said.
Councilman Don Burr agreed and added, "I am willing to waive the fee just this one time because the parade is good for the people and our city."
The council approved this modification to the recreation department's request when it voted on the issue.
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