Redevelopment budget reviewed

An overview of a $1.7 million redevelopment budget for fiscal year 2014-15 and some microscopic decisions about $65,000 in seed money for Carson City events concerned the pertinent citizens committee Monday.

Members of the Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee heard a budget presentation from Finance Director Nick Providenti in about a half-hour, then spent much of the next three hours of the evening deciding on recommendations for allocating money from the redevelopment revolving fund. The largest portion would go to help put on the Nevada 150 State Fair at Fuji Park and Fairgrounds. The panel recommended $10,000 for the July 30-Aug. 3 event.

“It’s looking good,” Interim City Manager Marena Works told the panel, though she said the goal of returning $75,000 to the city general fund and making additional money for future fairs does include some risk. She said that is because it is a new and first-time event.

Supervisor Brad Bonkowski, a panel member, had quizzed Works about payback of the $75,000 in seed money the Board of Supervisors approved earlier with explicit directions to return it after the event.

Along with the $10,000 recommended in next fiscal year’s redevelopment budget for the fair, the committee recommended allocating the following amounts for other events:

Sierra Nevada Ballet’s Duke’s Place event Oct. 24, $9,000.

August Jazz & Beyond and the Fourth of July celebration, $8,000 each.

Taste of Downtown on June 20, $6,500.

Capital City Arts Initiative for annual exhibits, $6,000.

The Spring Fun Fair in May and the Nevada Day Celebration during 2014, $5,000 each.

The Silver Dollar Car Classic in July and the Nutcracker and Peanutcracker performances in November and December, $2,500 apiece.

The panel during the evening also said it wants to kick in $20,000 as a match for a Nevada Department of Tourism grant and $30,000 in Question 18 Quality of Life funds to handle the first phase of a Fuji Park and Fairgrounds sign along U.S. Highway 395. Panel members were told, however, that the $70,000 first-phase sign can’t be done before the fair but will help with future events Carson City hopes to lure there.