2010 Candy Dance revenues continue lower

Experts say Nevada's economy is bouncing along the bottom and that seems to be reflected in the numbers from this year's Candy Dance.

Town Manager Sheryl Gonzales said preliminary figures showed the town spent about $132,000 to raise $124,450 from the annual craft fair, dinner and dance that funds the town.

This is the first year it cost the town more to raise money than it received.

Gonzales told town board members on Tuesday that increased costs have been eroding the festival's earning power for years.

She said the cost of logistics, including law enforcement, fire service and diverting traffic on Highway 395, have nearly doubled over the past five years.

The main source of income for the fair, booth rental fees were actually up over last year, and have hovered between $130,000 and $137,000 since 2007 when the town cut the number of booths.

One sore spot is candy sales which peaked at $53,840 in 2006. Costs for making the candy have decreased over the last five years, but revenues dropped about $4,000 a year through 2009. In 2010, candy sales dropped by $8,000 to $28,600.

Parking and merchandise both earned much more than in previous years.

The dinner dance, which has ranged from losing $3,300 in 2006 to earning $6,120 in 2009, broke even, making $620 this year. Gonzales said hiring a second band and selling fewer tickets contributed to this year's decrease.

Town board member Dave Whitgob said the negative trend for Candy Dance is what led Genoans to seek alternative sources of revenue, such as expanding the town's boundaries or other events.

Genoa Lakes resident Dan Aynesworth suggested Candy Dance is still viable.

"If you didn't have two bands at the dance, the numbers would be flat," he said. "Don't count Candy Dance out yet."

Town board members recommended denial of independent festival permits from Phil Stoll and Martha Williams, whose events are the same weekend as Candy Dance.

They laughed off the suggestion that they approve the permits and then move Candy Dance to the previous weekend.

The town board plans to send a letter asking county commissioners to deny the permits. Gonzales said both permits were identical with those approved by the county last year. Town Chairman Brian Williams said he doubted the county would deny the permits.