|
Chamber to do less promotion in face of budget constraints? |
|
|
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 |
|
By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
6-16-09 In these distressing financial times, the City of Bishop has drafted a two-year budget to better prepare for darker days to come. However, some question whether the council may be creating even darker days for the city with proposed cuts.
City Administrator Rick Pucci told the City Council in May that the two-year budget had been suggested to smaller communities and municipalities as the state budget spirals deeper into debt and legislators continue to make sweeping cuts. These cuts, for example, of 10 percent to a program in a larger city will affect services, but not as adversely as a 10 percent cut to a tiny program in a small town that could mean the end of the program altogether.
In drafting a conservative budget, the council has decided to make similar blanket cuts, specifically 10 percent to all departments.
While the Bishop Chamber of Commerce is not a city-run department, the city contracts the chamber to provide various services, namely tourism promotion. The chamber will take a 10 percent reduction in funding for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Chamber Executive Director Tawni Thomson said Monday that it is “barely squeaking by as it is” and is afraid the cut from the city will mean cuts to advertising and hours at the chamber/visitor center next to the City Park.
She said that the chamber already utilizes hundreds of volunteers and has a minimal staff, so she does not anticipate any staffing cuts.
The successful, yet expensive advertising campaign in Sunset magazine will probably get cut, Thomson said. As earlier reported, this campaign has allowed the chamber more interaction and exposure with those interested in the area, which the chamber says has increased visitation.
Other cuts will probably include scaling back the hours the chamber/center is open from seven to five days a week, as well as scaling back on events.
For events such as the California High School Rodeo Association State Finals that starts today, the chamber is spending at least $15,000 on promotions and has at least 100 volunteers helping out.
Thomson said it is unfortunate that the city has had to cut back on so many programs. She said that she and chamber staff will continue to do the best possible job with the resources available, but she’s worried about the short- and long-term affects these cuts will have.
“I am grateful for what the city does for us, and understand the council has to be prudent,” Thompson said, “but I think now is the time to promote more, not less.”
Thomson said she understands “things are tough all over,” however, the chamber “is different from any other expenditure” in that the chamber generates revenue through its efforts. She explained that the chamber’s job is to bring people into the area, visitors who will spend and create revenue for the city through taxes. These revenues can be spent to support services and programs that may be in jeopardy of being stripped to bare bones or completely cut by the state.
Thomson said she plans on reaching out for even more community support and volunteers as the money shrinks. She added that, “luckily,” there are some very determined and dedicated volunteers and business owners in the community that she is sure will come through if needed.
She added that she hopes to see the reincarnation of a city or county tourism director. The director would be paid through transient occupancy taxes, as is the case in other communities with tourist driven economies. Thomson thought the position would be ideal for the area.
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 July 2009 )
|
