The Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission has approved a $2.4 million budget for 2024.
After a two-hour budget workshop the commission held its final regular meeting of the year on Thursday, Dec. 21, where it unanimously approved next year’s financial projections.
“After taking a look at where we are right now with our monies, we are well ahead of 2023 projections of 2.3 with a surplus of money,” CAPC interim director Mike Maloney said. “So, hence we come back with these figures of $2.4 million for the year, equally spread between food and beverage [and] lodging at $1,100,000 for both.”
Commission chair Chris Clifton said projections show that the CAPC will end up “just a hair over the $2.4 this year.”
“So, [next year] will be a flat budget,” Clifton said.
Maloney said the CAPC staff is comfortable with the projections.
“We feel pretty comfortable right now with the $2.4 million,” Maloney said. “Obviously, our goal is to overachieve always. But, on the same token, we don’t think we’ll have to stake a step backwards.” Commissioner David Avanzino questioned the food and beverage tax collection projections, saying he feels there has been a recent “downturn” based on talking to other business owners.
“The tax receipts don’t show downturns,” Clifton responded.
Commissioner Steve Holifield said he’s also heard sales are down for many businesses.
“I agree with David,” Holifield said. “I hear all over town that sales are down, hotels are down, food is down. But, our numbers keep looking OK.
“It’s kind of scary to think are we going to get surprised one of these days and the rug is going to get pulled out from under us. But if the numbers are there the numbers are there.” Commissioners said they feel numbers are headed back to “pre-COVID” levels again.
“It goes back to the original question with David, will the sales be as strong going into next year?” said Scott Bardin, CAPC finance director who held the role of director for most of 2023. “I don’t know anybody that can write that down in the book of probability. … I know we’ve been strong for the year 2023 because we had events planned in town. We had a lot of collaboration with businesses and a lot going on and I think that contributed to the increase in income.
“But, I don’t know about 2024, I don’t know. … I think it is achievable….”
Maloney pointed to a good October where the CAPC exceeded its budget in food and beverage.
“We’ve been achieving pretty well, at least in the food and beverage area” Maloney said. “Right now, we’re optimistic with November numbers because they appear to be very strong.”
Madden, the new advertising agency for the CAPC which will start in January, will cost $1,007,000 for the year, Maloney said, plus $44,000 to take over the commission’s website.
The approved budget also includes $100,000 set aside for marketing support, while the commission approved any money given to the city’s park department for improvements to come out of surplus funds. The commission approved giving $51,250 out of reserves to parks at the Dec. 21 meeting.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Maloney and commissioners talked about the successful holiday season full of downtown lights and a schedule loaded with events.
“It was a great month of activities in December in Eureka Springs and obviously a great month here at The Auditorium because of the in and out of so many people who’ve come here,” Maloney said. “Of course, we had just a tremendous amount of lights that went up all over the city over the course of November and December.”
Maloney credited the CAPC staff, along with the work of the parks department and city public works.
“There was a great concentrated effort to really make the town look as good as it’s probably looked in a long time,” Maloney said. “It’s very exciting.”
Maloney said the CAPC purchased a new projector for The Auditorium for $23,000, which improved the experience of showing free holiday movies on a big screen during the month.
“After the parade was over with, people came in and saw It’s a Wonderful Life in full color and went, ‘this looks like the Malco,’ and it was fantastic. It was one of the greatest things we’ve had in a long time,” Maloney said.
Maloney told commissioners that goals for the coming year will include reintroducing group sales as a CAPC priority, having regular breakfast meetings with community stakeholders, and focusing on attracting more wedding events in the city.
Old Crow Medicine Show is scheduled to perform Saturday, Jan. 20, at The Aud, and has already sold nearly 450 tickets, Maloney said.
That show is one of a possible six or seven that are being planned for 2024, he said.
“These are acts that you’ll know,” Maloney said.
Lights on the outside The Auditorium for the holidays have been a hit and there’s been talk about utilizing them year round, Maloney said.
“What I’d like to see us do is when we have an event at The Auditorium, whenever it is, the lights go on, because it signifies we have a show going on or something.”
Other commissioners suggested leaving them on year-round.
OTHER ACTIONS
Other votes by the commission included nominating Brian Weinmann to the vacant seat on the CAPC. Weinmann, owner of Bubba’s BBQ, will now have to get an OK from city council.
The commission also voted to approve a marketing support request of $3,000 to support next year’s Carving in the Ozarks.
