How much does Heritage Fest cost the village? How much positive budget impact does the village receive from suspending it for 2010? The final figure released by the village indicates that suspending the 29th consecutive Heritage Fest will save the village $494,000.
A copy of the 2009 report written last October has been requested. Who did what, what was rented and leased from whom, how much bands cost: the idea is to get the information out to whomever might assume the lead role in coordinating a smaller 2010 event.
In the meantime there is the 2008 Heritage Fest Annual Report to use as a starting point. The village has a pretty complete record on-line, accessible without a FOIA request. That report contains a reasonably complete balance sheet and that village-generated report sharply contradicts what the village says will be saved to the budget for 2010.
DGreport has uploaded the Heritage Fest 2008 Annual Report, which you can read here. Former village commissioner Martin Tully formerly chaired the Community Events Commission, and as an occasional commenter here at DGreport, is welcome to jump in with corrections if some points or dollar amounts are missed or incorrectly presented.
The Annual Report has a complete set of payables and receivables, and is a reasonably complete accounting of much of the information needed to try and organize a 2010 event.
Note that 2008 wasn’t the best year weather-wise for HF. Some light rain and high winds damped attendance. The charity concert, which in 2007 attracted almost 3,000 paying attendees to hear The Gin Blossoms, drew fewer than 900 in 2008 with Vertical Horizon and was a money loser.
The ’08HF concluded Friday and Saturday nights with fireworks displays, an expense that was deleted in 2009 in order to open the top deck of the parking deck to paying cars. Sponsorship dropped from 2007 also, generating cash or in-kind contributions of $60,650.
Attendance was estimated at a bit over 100,000 for the duration of the event. About 10,500 attendees used the shuttle buses, generating $6,493 (kids under 5 rode free) in revenue. Parking generated $13,115 without top-deck parking (due to fireworks).
The Rotary Club presented the village with $89,122 in revenues generated from the beer tent, down from the 2007 level due to low attendance at the Thursday night concert and crummy weather on Sunday. The Rotary Club beer tent in-kind sponsorship donations of products and services were valued at an additional $21,100.
In 2008 the budgeted event expected to recoup 94.28% of expenses, but in the final analysis recouped only 90.37%. Council shifted $50,000 from the General Fund for the Thursday night concert, which played a large part in that drop in recouped expenses.
The Annual Report shows budgeted expenses for the Heritage Festival were $419,750,and budgeted revenue was $419,900, which would have netted a small profit. Actual expenses were $486,552, with actual revenue totaling $460,677, yielding a net loss of $25,875.
If the 2008 Heritage Fest had been suspended, the budget impact would have been a positive $25,875. Two years later, the budget impact of suspending Heritage Fest shows a gain of $494,000 — an increase of $468,125.
Note: 2008 Fourth of July events cost the village $31,939, and generated revenues of $7,873. If the 2008 Fourth of July events had been suspended, the budget impact would have been a positive $24,066.
What happened to make Heritage Fest such a budget anchor that it’s costs jumped to $494,000? It appears that the village may have totaled up the budgeted expenses, but did not balance that with revenues in order to come up with a net cost to the village.
This may have been an oversight due the last minute changes in the HF’s status. One week the council was directing staff to give those expenses a budget haircut and staff found where they could reasonably clip $90,000; the next week it was suspended.
On November 19, (agenda here) the CEC was moving forward with requests for proposals for the Beer Tent, Bingo and Crafts and the Car Show and other attractions, printing up the brochures, and working on layout. Two weeks later, members were talking about what their duties might be and what the boundaries of assistance may be to any groups that might want to try and run a smaller HF in 2010.
The festival began in 1982 as a one-day celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of Downers Grove. During the last Community Events Commission meeting on December 1 a couple civic groups, notably the Rotary Club and President Barbara Wysocki seemed willing to take the lead in coordinating some sort of down-scaled 29th annual Heritage Fest. It seems a daunting task; the village has employed three staff members to coordinate and organize the event.
The Facebook group started by two students from Downers Grove South has to be considered a flash-crowd phenomenon, adding 3,700 followers in three days. Their issue: Heritage Fest is a linchpin event of growing up in Downers Grove,. They can’t believe adults are scuttling it in 2010.
Looking through the comments, there is evidence of a willing pool of volunteers to pick up the slack and reduce expenses, help raise money, and generally assist — if only they knew what to do. In 2008, staffing expenses were estimated $121,892. That is where volunteers can bend the curve down.
Arts and Crafts have their own ebb and flow; to this very casual observer it seems this component has receded in recent years. The HF Car Show, which the organizers once said they would make cost neutral, has been another component, with a more stable crowd year to year.
The carnival is a revenue generator. In 2008, the street fair attractions brought in net revenues (after expenses) of $123,925. This is due in large part to the youth of Downers Grove and surrounding communities, who attend HF and spend money on rides.
The Community Events Commission will meet at 4 p.m., Tues., Dec. 15 to discuss general topics (agenda is here).
$25,000 is much different than $494,000.
Top 10 concerns about Heritage Fest
1; For years I have heard the Council talk about the most recently held HF and how it either made a few bucks or lost a few bucks, but how nice it was. It always seemed close to breakeven.
2; The Council seemed to give everyone the impression that we would have HF this year, but in lighting fashion, during the Thanksgiving period they voted it out. One week workshop, next week HF is gone.
3; The bottom line Profit & Loss numbers seems to be changing almost as fast at the Chicago weather. From close to breakeven to a huge loss. I believe the Village has produced 4 different sets of bottom line numbers for an event nearly 6 months ago.
4; The Community Events Committee was given the task to see what could be done to increase revenue and reduce expenses, and still keep HF going. Yet the Council never gave the CEC the opportunity to make their presentation. In fact, the CEC were as surprised as anyone by the quick decision.
5; Somewhere along the way the Village seems to have lost its direction. After 27 years HF is very much a part of the core of what makes DG a neat community.
6; Charities, that return so much back to DG, count on HF for funding each year. Eliminating HF will have a dramatic negative impact on what these groups can do for DG going forward.
7; Some downtown businesses do well at HF, others not so well. With the new street layout businesses as a whole did better, and would do even better going forward if we did a better job of cross selling HF to our many nice businesses.
8; It is good clean entertainment combined with a nice variety of different foods and other activities. People everywhere are having a good time.
9; It brings visitors from outside of DG into our community to see our nice and vibrant downtown area. A good place to shop, eat and see a movie at the Tivoli. Not a bad way to spend a day or evening.
10; It is simply too difficult, too time consuming, and too much up front costs for non-profit groups on their own to put on an HF that resembles the current HF.
Mark:
A few comments:
I would encourage you to perform this same exercise with the 2009, 2007, 2006 and 2005 Heritage Festival reports, when you obtain them. I say that because the 2008 HF budget was somewhat unique, but for reasons other that what you described (i.e., 2007 – not 2008 — was the year of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of the Village of Downers Grove). You are, however, correct that the reason the 2008 Festival only recouped 90% of its expenses is because the Village made a one-time commitment of $50,000 for entertainment that year (primarily the Thursday night concert) and offered heritage-oriented, not-for-profit groups the opportunity to apply to participate in and benefit from the ticketed benefit concert. (The 1846 Blodgett House on the Move organization won the right to do so that year.) That $50,000 was a special expenditure in support of heritage preservation that did not have, and was not expected to have, any offsetting revenues. So, it skewed the HF report for that year. Otherwise, as you have noted, the 2008 Festival came very close to having budgeted revenues meet budgeted expenses.
The 2007 Heritage Festival was similarly unique in that it was the centerpiece of the 175th Anniversary celebration and, for that reason, HF that year was given special dispensation (and dollars) and not expected to “break even” in terms of budgeted revenues meeting or exceeding budgeted expenses. Nevertheless, I think you will find that it came close to doing so.
Importantly, I think you will find that in 2005, 2006 and 2009 the Heritage Festival’s budgeted revenues pretty much met or exceeded the budgeted expenses. Thus, as you have concluded, eliminating the Festival in any of those years would have saved little because offsetting revenues would have been eliminated along with the costs of the event. Of course, one has to look at the net savings, not just the gross.
As stated in earlier posts here, the net savings in the 2010 budget (as I understand them) come not so much from eliminating the Festival for next year, but from eliminating positions in the Community Events Department, which plans and coordinate all the events held or sponsored by the Village and also works with outside organizations that hold their own events in the Village.
The question was put to the Council years ago (in a different context) regarding what events should be hosted and held by the Village as opposed to events run by outside groups with the blessing and support of the Village. Historically, HF has been viewed as one event that ideally should be hosted by the Village. But the current budget climate has involuntarily forced a closer analysis of that pending inquiry. As many have suggested, the question now is whether Heritage Festival – in some shape and form — could be conducted by a private group with the blessing and support of the Village? In my opinion, yes, it could be done.
The blueprints and the budget model are already there. Anyone can see what the estimated costs and revenues are, although there probably will be some additional costs due to the Village charging for things that it wouldn’t charge itself. Although planning, coordinating and pulling off the Festival is a big deal, with enough volunteers, the heavy personnel demands of the event probably could be met. To do it in 2010, however, would present a number of significant organizational, financing, contracting, permitting, approval, and timing challenges. But it is possible, and I know a few people that could probably make some calls and drill down further into the details. . . .
The Council voted to suspend the Fest for 2010. Why can we not accept it and look for ways to make sure that the Fest comes back in 2011? Council is NOT going to go back and change their votes.
Enough already. They laid off how many employees? Laid off how many Police Officers and cut how many programs??
And you want them to throw a party…………get real.
Since the actual budgeted expenses were $419,750 versus the actual expenses at $486,552 with regard to 2008, I would think that $494,000 is rather acurate for 2010.
That represents basically an inflation factor of 2-3% which I think is somewhat conservative given the 2 year difference in time.
The biggest hidden cost is the police staffing. Who Pays ?
Overtime or stripping of regular shifts ??
Jim,
Good question about the police. The Police costs are budgeted within the Heritage Fest. They total roughly $55,000. EMT, Fire, and Cleanup by PW are also budgeted..
Ryan,
Budgeted expenses and net costs are two decidedly different things.
Heritage Fest is NOT a “party” don’t belittle it and call it that! It’s not a party!
It’s a COMMUNITY event where people come TOGETHER to be and act like a COMMUNITY – have you ever been? If you have and paid any attention at all you would know it’s not a party! I have never seen so many happy people in this town – old, young and in between – happy, smiling, polite, etc.! Everyone is there to be nice and neighborly and have a nice time and enjoy our town – everyone is proud to be in town, live in town – you get to see people you haven’t seen in years, etc. I feel it’s more like a family reunion! I go around giving dollars to all the boy scout booths even if I don’t want their pop – I stop and chat with the Noon Lions guys even if I don’t want corn – I donate the Bonfield Express because they are there and it’s easy to do … etc. it’s NOT a party!! AND yes, we have serious concerns in this Village – no one is disputing that! But all the more reason we need to COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND SMILE!
Aren’t taxpayers the ones paying for everything and everybody in the village? There’s no secret money source, it comes from us. Village can’t spend a couple bucks spent on us? It’s taxpayer money in the first place.
Mr. Swimmer is spot on when he says lightening fast. Barnett went into that back room where the public isn’t allowed and courageously convinced commissioners to change their minds? Commissioner Barnett you must have missed your memo about how above board council is nowadays.
Now our Village Council thinks taxpayers should just shut up and move on like everything’s okay? It’s not okay. Read the Facebook pages Council members.
Budgeted expenses and net costs are two different items, correct.
The fact of the matter is that the net costs exceeding the budgeted expenses is something that the village wants to avoid. If it happened in 2008, what’s to say it won’t happen in 2010.
Council never said the Fest was discontinued forever. Chances are in 2011 it will be back.
I know in the land of the McManisons and fifty year mortgages, my five dollars donation is seen as a joke ,but where is the correct address and proper name of group or committee that I can send five dollars to SOF 2010(Save Our Feast) {Relax Earl the fest won’t solve all the world’s problems. Earl, quit trying to stir the pot in a town you don’t leave in anymore.} Not my opinion matters, in all seriousness I would like to see the feast prevail in 2010 just let me know the proper address and title that I can send a donation to and you can count on me to spread the word to those who are perceived as more professional or credible than me (gosh darn it, if only I had an IEP growing up in Downers).
To cancel HF inorder to save $25k is absolutely stupid….To then call it a $500k savings is bordering on irresponisibilty, or incompetance….either way there will be hell to pay come election time.
A LOT of people who care about HF are now just learning about its demise…. wait til they look for the gathering in June and find quiet dead streets instead…..ouch…, There’s gonna have to be a lot of explaining by the local politicols over this one.
DebbieD – hey, if times are tough economically, nobody in the community is supposed to be smiling or enjoying themselves or having a good time. As a village board member said, there’s nothing to be celebrating about! Now, put on your best community scowl and….and stay inside. You speak as if community events give citizens a morale boost during hard times or something. Sheesh!
HS,
Was there a solution hidden in your overly sarcastic rant?
EJ,
Since I get nailed for it all the time maybe this last comment should be nixed.
I was thinking HS could explain him or herself.. I found them to be funny and joking; I think my husband interpreted the post the same way you did, Chad.. HS want to weigh in?
I read it as extreme sarcasm crafted to make a point-or mock one. In this case its the village’s ‘anti-celebrating’ comment, and the demise of HF in general.
I liked the expression ‘community scowl’..
HS was clearly joking.
What’s not funny is how this thing is blowing up over on Facebook. (I saw how you got disgusted and left, Chad. That’s how people are, though — if you haven’t worked in customer service lately, such a display may shock your delicate sensibilities.)
Back to the fest — and forgive me for being a typical American with a small attention span and tendency to glaze over when finances are discussed — it seems to me that there were several areas to REDUCE before scrapping the fest entirely. Why, for instance, did they not switch to an all-local band list? Limos for the entertainers? 126 thousand dollars spent? People are happy to listen to just about any band in a beer garden; they don’t need the two surviving members of Three Dog Night to wheeze out their #1 hits from the ’70′s.
Or was this just for image sake? “How can you pay for a party when (insert your budget concern here?”
I am tired of people bitching and not getting involved. It’s kind of like voting. Don’t complain to me if you didn’t vote. If you are going to talk the talk you’d better walk the walk. There are way to many lazy American’s out there who just accept what their government, a friend or some media outlet tells them to be true. If people were that upset about HF being cut they should have packed the village hall instead of having the usual suspects go before the council to plead their case. Honestly, I didn’t think cutting HF would get this type of reaction based on the information I read and saw during the budget process. Just goes to show you that if you don’t get involved you suffer the consequences. I left that silly facebook group because that is what it is. Silly. Nary an informed person in the group. It’s a waste of my time.
In fairness to the lazy, discontented rabble, you will recall that the decision to suspend HF for 2010 did sorta come at the 11th hour, basically at the point of the budget approval. From what I’ve read, up until that point, it had been pruned but not chopped. Not a very realistic chance to pack Village Hall.
Chad, I am VERY busy I do not have time (or the inclination) to go to Council meetings. I emailed Ron and all the Council members to make my feelings known, in detail – so please do not generalize – and there are MANY informed people on the save heritage fest facebook site – myself included – again, please don’t generalize (so much!)
I think of it a little differently, Chad. In this country, voicing your opinion — whether or not it’s “silly” or immediately accompanied by action — is a fundamental right. Who’s to say how many of the 4,000+ on Facebook will get involved in making HF happen in the future? Remember, most of them are kids. At the very least, I’d like their experience in speaking up and attempting to influence their local government to be a positive one.
As for people packing Village Hall during the HF discussion — everyone left the meeting of Nov. 17 thinking a more limited fest would go forward in 2010. A week later it was eliminated. There was no need for proponents to “pack village hall” if they didn’t know the council was considering suspension of the fest.
BTW: I didn’t join the Facebook group because I tend to be neutral on the fest. I understand the budget issues, but I also understand the disappointment of many (including my kids) that fest is being scuttled for now.
I think there are very good reasons for the event to be run by a non-profit entity, but if that’s going to happen soon, those people will need good numbers to determine how to proceed. Saying it costs $494,000 — which includes the overhead of DG staff — isn’t going to help a non-profit get a handle on what the real costs would be.
Sorry Chad, I haven’t had time to formulate a Strategic Heritage Fest Resurgence and Sustainability Ten Year Action Plan (SHFRSTYAP) yet, and if I waited a year to post my comment it wouldn’t have been read or garnered any laughs. Sorry if I made you scowl!
DGmom – I can see your point about reductions first – and I think they did that initially, I thought I read they were going to cut $60K or so from the HF budget initially. However, I think bringing in known bands – even if well-known and past their commercial prime – is what brings people to a festival. Joe Schmo from Willowbrook might have come to see the Marshall Tucker band at HF a few years ago, spent some money on food and drinks, noticed a few shops and restaurants while here, and been coming back occasionally ever since to enjoy our town and add to our sales tax revenues. Now, that revenue might not be directly measurable against the expense of paying the MTB fifteen grand or whatever it was they incurred, but I think that’s part of what makes a community event an investment, not a mere short-term party expense. The fact that people are smiling is just an unfortunate, unavoidable side effect.
Saying it costs $494k by applying overhead charges is BS.
Cutting this event in the 11th hr 59th minute is what has irked so many. Especially when other types of truly BS items were given chance after chance after chance of making themselves run at break even….Can you say BUSES? What kind of overhead charges were added or for that matter REMOVED from the Buses operating account to make them look like they breakeven?? Swimmer or Thoman we need your help with this.
Debbie,
I get reaction. That is why I blog. I get people to say what they really want to say. I stoke the fire. You of all people should know that by now. LOL
There’s so much talk of Heritage Fest that I am shocked.
I joined that Facebook group so I can stay updated on the feeds from there on my iPhone. I am neutral on the subject as well. I can see both sides of this debate.
Someone had suggested a “Save The Fest” fund. I will suggest that today at the Community Event Commission meeting and see what happens. I do believe that some of the vendors, non-profits, and good citizens of DG will come up with some essential front money to keep the Fest going. With some good planning and volunteer efforts by many there is no question that we can have a Fest in 2010. “If you can conceive it, you can achieve it”.
I like it George!
Your idea is also a great way that any of the social services that lost thier grants could make up for some of the funding. That is the way it used to be before the government got so big and bloated just giving money to everyone.
Thank you Mr. Swimmer. You and others are in touch with the heart of the village. Sad that our government isn’t.
Mr. Thoman did you ever get the 2009 report or get a chance to look at the reports Mr. Tully suggested?
The Rotary Club indicated to the Community Event Commission that they will soon submit a plan for sometype of fest in 2010.
At the meeting there were 3 students actively involved in trying to save the fest. One spoke about a shorter fest. I agreed, the Lions sold hardly any corn during the day on Friday. The car show people seemed like they would like to be involved. I indicated that if the DG Noon Lions could be of help, let us know. The students indicated that they would do fund raisers to help save the fest and I mentioned that I thought vendors, non profits, and citizens would make contributions to help save the fest. I have good vibes that there will be a good fest in 2010. It takes a Village to make a fest.
Rotary is going to run Heritage Fest in 2010? They could not even run Octoberfest this year? How are they going to pull this one off??
HF is done for 2010. Let us worry about 2011 already.
Got the reports, but haven’t had time to read them in detail. I’ll try and post something up this weekend.
Think positive NoFest! Ms. Wysocki and the Rotary have a huge task should they become the main shoulder carrying the load, and everyone can pitch in somehow someway, even if it’s just with good wishes and showing up to buy one of George’s ears of corn, and a can of pop from your favorite youth group!
Later…
NOfest…
your bias is showing too brightly…If you aren’t part of the solution….step off dude and get out of the way.
“Save the Fest”
Talk is cheap and so is blogging, my grandpa on my dad’s side taught me if you speak up, you must act on those words: I will volunteer five hours on Saturday preferably from 9am to 2pm picking up trash, cleaning portal potties or serving food and drinks (I promise I will wash my hands), no talking politics (yeah right!!) [A jack of all trades and a master of none (except running my mouth, blogging too much with my fingers and always looking ugly with my face and my narcissist personality); the only way I will not make this commitment if force mandatory overtime at my job, family emergency, I get fired from my job (you never know with me) or don't get permission from my other boss [There I go again talking out both sides of my mouth, I should have gone into politics]. It takes a community to put on a fest: past, present and future; the Heritage fest will always remain alive.
Don’t stop thinking about Downers, yesterday is gone. But the Heritage Fest will always remain alive!!!
(It’s my way of returning a favor from good advice a DG Police Officer gave me about leaving the nest [I think he had the foresight to see that I would probably drive down real estate values in Downers] {I guess Earl is capable of listening some of the time}
The weekend that HF was held is already full of events in other towns, not to mention Taste of Chi. I remember years when you had to choose which musical act you wanted to see around the region. Plus the last weekend of June can be really hot and muggy.
So Henry it’s a bad weekend for you, so we should forget it? I am sorry, I don’t understand your post..
I think Henry is saying to maybe move the date there are lots of other events that weekend. Maybe move it up or back a few weeks thats all.
I agree on the date possibly being moved up or down. Everyone likes the close to the 4th tie in, but more people may be able to volunteer if we are not up against The Taste (which will be scaled back this year), and other popular fests.
I sit here and read all these posts about the Fest being cancelled. In my experience, once you take something away, it NEVER comes back. I said it before and I’ll say it again.. The fest does NOT need to be cancelled.. scaled back? Abosolutely! There is NO need for a concert on Thursday night… Make it Friday night and make it a fundraiser for the Fest!! This is NOT rocket science, people! It COULD be self-supporting if the powers that be wanted it to be. Last years Fest was the smallest in years, but it was perfectly fine! It could still be cut back some.
I also sit here and think about past Fests and remember just how many people were there when I attended and I’m having trouble believing that it cost more to put it on than it makes… there are always ALOT of people downtown on that weekend and the food lines are as long as ever…where is the loss?????? Sure, it cost money to have PD/FD personnel down there all weekend, but they need to be, because inherently people are stupid and to be taken care of!
I am but a small voice in a very large crowd, but from where I sit, the Village Council, elected by the CITIZENS of DG did NOT do as the citizens seemed to want this time.. Every time I have asked it the Fest made money, I was told it “broke even”… And now, all of a sudden, it’s losing money.. hmmmmm….I’m beginning to wonder if there is a bigger problem under the surface here… Who has enough power with the council that does not want the fest????? Just sayin!