More on CCTB Budget

If you missed it, the Carbondale Times has a breakdown of where the money goes for the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau.  The CCTB's total budget runs a hair over $405,000 with most of that ($317,500) coming from the C'dale hotel/motel tax. The rest comes from the county, state and various grants. 

47% of that goes for salaries. Another 30% goes for insurance, administration, rent and technical support (which I assume includes the CCTB website). That leaves about 23% of the budget for promotional activities and special projects.  Since from what I see from the CCTB's strategic plan, most of its focus is on promoting Carbondale and the region, I would think a greater percentage of the budget would focus on those activities.

Mayor Fritzler's proposal to pull $120,000 from the CCTB budget would reduce the CCTB budget by 30%. According to CCTB executive director Debbie Moore, if this cut takes place, the Bureau would have to eliminate the following:

 --match a $37,500 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to support the use of locally grown specialty crops.

-- a proposal to the  Illinois Office of Tourism for a tourism attraction development grant.

--cultural heritage partnership project  for a proposed single-day heritage festival in the city. Among event sites listed were the Varsity Center for the Arts and the Fuller Dome Home.

--community youth golf team and expanded efforts to bring Amateur Athletic Union tournaments to the park district's Hickory Ridge Public Golf Center.

--CCTB's  development of arts-centered marketing designed to bring cultural tourists to the city.

--New visitor guides

--Community contributions to Lights Fantastic Parade, July 4 fireworks display, and CMS Friday Night Fair

From what I see, if the proposed $120,000 cut goes through, the CCTB would, at least according to Executive Director Moore, cut almost all of its promotional activities, which is the primary reason for the organization's existance in the first place and rely on the Bureau's website for outreach and promotion.