An event organizer for Franklin’s civic celebration and St. Martin’s Fair told the committee the 2025 festival ran three days, brought in $156,000 in income and had $176,000 in expenses, producing a shortfall of about $19,000 that organizers covered from a built-up general fund. “In 2025, it was a 3 day event. And we had our income was donations, ticket sales, food vendors, city general fund of $30,000 … We had total income a $156,000,” the organizer said during the meeting.

The organizer told the committee the festival’s largest expense category was personnel—primarily overtime and holiday pay for police and Department of Public Works staff—and that organizers had returned $44,000 to the city from the event’s general fund support. On the expense side, the organizer listed DPW costs at $44,000, entertainment at roughly $36,000, parade costs $11,000 and fireworks $30,000; tent, tables and chairs totaled about $19,700.

Committee members and organizers discussed options to reduce net cost and increase revenue. Suggestions included contracting private security rather than relying on paid police overtime, seeking more sponsorships and direct donations from local businesses that benefit from festival weekend traffic, charging larger nonfood vendors or reallocating portions of public-grant discounts, and trimming paid entertainment in favor of locally sourced acts. One committee member said contracting could fix costs: “So the price is the price, and then you can make decisions based on that.”

Organizers noted donations rose modestly from $23,000 in 2024 to $26,000 in 2025, and staff said restroom rentals alone were nearly $19,000 this year. The committee also discussed shortening or changing the schedule; organizers confirmed the festival would be three days rather than four if the parade could not be held on Sunday. The organizer said they plan to return to the full council in October with a revised budget request.

Why it matters: civic festivals rely on municipal support and volunteer labor but impose measurable costs on public safety and public works budgets. Organizers and council members said having clearer, predictable contract costs for security or services could reduce unexpected overtime. No formal budget amendment or vote was taken at the committee meeting; discussion centered on identifying cost savings and additional revenue sources ahead of the October council budget presentation.