AGENDA #7a
BUDGET WORKING PAPER
TO: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
FROM: Kathryn Spatz, Parks and Recreation Director
SUBJECT: Potential Savings if Town 4th of July Event Cancelled
DATE: April 24, 2002
This memorandum is in response to a [BWaR1][BWaR2]Council member’s question concerning potential savings if the annual 4th of July celebration in Kenan Stadium was cancelled.
DISCUSSION
The Town has traditionally held a 4th of July event with fireworks at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan Stadium. The event has consisted of several hours of entertainment, including diverse music, children activities, and the actual fireworks show.
Direct costs for the 2001 4th of July celebration event totaled approximately $32,000 (excluding Town personnel costs). The expenditures fall into four categories:
Fireworks $12,000
University Personnel Charges $ 9,500
Stage/Entertainment $ 9,500
Publicity/Supplies/Miscellaneous $ 1,000
TOTAL $32,000
Revenues that paid for the event in 2001 came from three sources:
Town of Chapel Hill $24,500
Corporate/private sponsorship $ 4,500
Town of Carrboro $ 3,000
TOTAL $32,000
The event has been cosponsored with the Town of Carrboro and the University. Since 1999, the University’s contribution to the event has been limited to free use of Kenan Stadium. The Town has been responsible for reimbursing the University for all personnel costs.
Robert Humphreys, Executive Director of the Downtown Commission, has worked to solicit sponsors for the event. Last year, two private sector sponsors, GMR Marketing and Chapel Hill Performance, contributed $3,000 and $1,500 respectively to support the event.
CONCLUSION
If the 4th of July event for 2002 was cancelled, we believe the Town would realize savings of $20,000 to $25,000.