REPORT TO CULTURAL COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion of Commission Budget Allocations
Report
BACKGROUND
The Cultural Commission's program budget was approved in the amount of $3,941 for FY2021/22. During the City Council's budget review process and adoption of the FY 2021/22 fiscal year budget, several program areas and departments' budgets and staffing were reduced as a result of the pandemic's economic impacts on City revenues. In turn, the Commission must prioritize programs and activities offered to the community within the approved budget amount.
At the August 2021 Cultural Commission meeting, the Commission discussed strategies to fund programs given the City budget reductions in FY 2021/22. The Commission requested an item be placed on an upcoming Commission agenda to discuss the potential for the City to solicit new funding through business and individual sponsorships to fund programs that are unfunded such as the Summer Concert Series and the Street Dance.
DISCUSSION
The citywide special events are approved as part of the City budget which is the financial policy document of the City Council. The Department staff manage the approved events within the approved General Fund subsidy and expenditure levels, and collects revenues through fees, donations and sponsorships. The Parks & Recreation Department is tasked with developing sponsorship opportunities for individuals and businesses.
The Department does not have the discretion to offer events nor to solicit funds for events that have not been approved as part of the City budget review and approval process. For example, the Art & Wine Festival was not approved and did not take place in FY2021/22, but a smaller event, Celebrate Santa Clara, was approved to be held instead. In addition, the Department carefully budgets and allocates its staffing levels required to plan and implement events. Additional hours are not available to support activities that have been eliminated from the City budget.
The ...
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