Simons Auditorium study finds nonprofit conversion difficult; fees and partnerships explored

The Finance and Personnel Committee reviewed a report on Simons Auditorium operations that evaluated whether the facility could be transferred to or operated by a nonprofit entity and whether fee increases or alternative partnerships could make it self-sustaining.

Tracy Govan, Simons director (referenced in the packet), researched nonprofit models and franchise options. The committee heard that nonprofit conversion would require the facility to be profitable and would shift costs now borne by the county — such as IT, human resources, attorney services and insurance — onto the new entity. Committee members also cited recent capital investments the county has made (new roof and pool replastering) and asked staff to include those capital costs in any analysis of net cost to the county.

The report considered alternatives such as forming a nonprofit board, partnering with an organization such as the YMCA (which committee members said would require fees and population thresholds), and operating the adjacent gym/field house as a revenue source. The director—s analysis indicated that raising fees substantially (the packet cited a hypothetical example of increasing fees by $150 annually across memberships) would be required to make the facility self-sufficient.

Committee members asked staff to return capital-spending totals for the facility over the last five years to provide full context for the county—s current subsidy. The ad hoc committee and Simons director will be available for future questions; no final action to change operations was taken at the meeting.