The Festival Organization of St. John requested $350,000 from the V.I. Government for its 2012 budget during Senate hearings Tuesday on St. Thomas—roughly $275,000 more than is proposed in Gov. John deJongh Jr.’s 2012 budget.
A major part of the budget this year is a request for $135,000 to buy a large tent, artificial grass and five 40-foot cargo containers, Organization President Leona Smith told the Finance Committee. The tent would cover a bandstand and patrons in case of inclement weather, which has disrupted events in recent years, she said.
Spending the money now will save money over time, she said. About five years ago, the organization acquired a reusable stage, before which it spent about $15,000 a year acquiring lumber and other materials, Smith said.
"The lumber and other construction over the last five years has been reduced to $6,000; and with the acquisition of the containers we can reduce the cost in half," Smith said.
The organization is requesting $350,000 and anticipates roughly $60,000 in revenues generated by festival activities, for a total request of $410,000. Due to the nature of the organization, very little goes to personnel costs. Entertainment accounts for $105,000 of anticipated expenses, with travel expenses consuming $75,000, professional services another $75,000 and fireworks budgeted at $25,000.
“We have utilized all funding provided efficiently and our records of expenses demonstrates the organization has acted in a fiscally and morally responsible manner," Smith said.
DeJongh’s 2011 budget included a $175,000 appropriation from the government’s General Fund and $75,000 from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund, paid out of hotel occupancy taxes. The governor’s 2012 budget zeros out the General Fund request, for a nominal decrease of 100 percent, but still includes $75,000 from the Tourism Advertising Revolving Fund.
The members of the St. John Festival Organization are: President Leona Smith, Vice President Camille Paris, Treasurer Natalie Thomas, Secretary Linda Williams, and Public Relations Officer Alecia Wells.
No votes were taken at the information-gathering budget hearing. Present were Sens. Carlton "Ital" Dowe, Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly, Sammuel Sanes and Janette Millin-Young. Absent were: Sens. Louis Hill, Shawn-Michael Malone and Celestino White.
