Cedar City wrap-tax applicants seek $464,000 while committee budget is $383,774; debate centers on SUU umbrella request

The Cedar City Wrap Tax Advisory Committee heard presentations from about 20 arts and culture organizations on funding requests that together exceed the committee—s available budget. Committee staff said the available wrap-tax pool for the year is $383,774 and presenters' combined requests total roughly $464,000.

Why it matters: The wrap-tax program is one of the city—s primary tools for underwriting events and arts organizations that draw visitors and local participation. Committee members pressed presenters on budgets, audience reach and whether the university—s combined application should be split to ensure award-level transparency.

Organizers from more than a dozen groups gave short pitches and answered questions. Several of the largest requests and details presented during the hearing included: - Julie Krause, president of Cedar City Children—s Musical Theatre, said the group is asking for $25,000 to support summer productions, royalties and scholarships for participants. "We are asking for $25,000," Krause said. - Donna Christiansen, representing the Cedar Livestock and Heritage Festival, said the festival draws what organizers estimate as many out-of-area visitors and asked for $25,000 to help cover rising liability and operating costs, especially insurance. - Brandon Burke, co-artistic director of Impact Theatre Company, told the committee Impact is asking for $10,000, citing rising costs and an expansion of youth opportunities: "We are asking for $10,000," Burke said. - Steve Schertz, musical director for the Cedar City Community Band, asked for $3,000 to sustain the band—s programming and purchase music. - Roger Gold, president of the Cedar City Arts Council, stated the council—s request in the hearing: "We're asking for $12,250," and also referenced a larger figure ($22,052.50) that he read from their materials and sought to confirm on the record. - Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) provided its application detail and told the group SUMA—s request for the coming year is $58,300 (figure stated during the meeting). - Presenters from the Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF) and Southern Utah University (SUU) explained they submitted a combined packet under SUU—s umbrella; festival staff said the broader SUU request for festival and museum work was being presented together and referenced a combined ask figure in the six-figure range during remarks. - A new nonprofit, Hope Forever Foundation, represented by Wyle Hadlock, requested $3,000 to underwrite a community "hope chest" carpentry project and a linked silent auction to support local student programming.

Procedural and policy questions Committee members raised a recurring procedural issue: by ordinance SUU submitted one application covering multiple SUU entities (SUMA, the Utah Shakespeare Festival and a Satellite Salon series). Several committee members said they want the committee to recommend allocations to individual SUU programs rather than issue a lump sum to the university grants office.

"We can split out Shakespeare versus SUMA versus the salon series," city staff told the committee and said the city—s standard contract practice is to withhold a portion of funds until recipients submit the required accounting.

Members also asked whether university-held funds would incur an internal administrative or overhead charge from SUU—s grants office. Staff advised the committee that such details should be clarified in the award contract and that the committee can stipulate that award dollars not be charged an additional administrative fee.

Other points of note - Committee staff announced the wrap-tax budget and the aggregate requests early in the hearing: "We have a budget of $383,774. We have asks of $464,000. I believe we have 20 groups," a staff member told the room. - Presenters emphasized audience reach and community programs: several groups reported multi-thousand seasonal audiences, student matinees, school visits, interstate attendees and regional advertising. - Several groups described rising operating costs—insurance, venue rental and artist fees—as chief drivers for larger requests.

Next steps Committee members directed presenters and staff on a schedule: members will finalize recommended allocations and provide those recommendations to staff in time for publication in the council packet. Committee staff requested the committee—s allocation recommendations by Monday the 16th (the date given at the hearing) so the advisory recommendation can be bundled for the council work session.

The committee set a follow-up meeting for the next Wednesday at 9 a.m. to reconcile member recommendations and prepare the advisory report to city council. City staff said contracts will include reporting requirements and that the city will withhold the second installment of any award until the recipient provides the required accounting information.

Quotes "We're asking for $12,250," Roger Gold, president of the Cedar City Arts Council, told the committee about his group's application, later noting a second figure from their materials. "We are asking for $25,000," Julie Krause, president of Cedar City Children—s Musical Theatre, told the committee. "We are asking for $10,000," Brandon Burke, co-artistic director of Impact Theatre Company, said, citing increased costs and growth in youth programming. "The purpose of my coming here is to ask for the amount of $3,000," said Wyle Hadlock of the Hope Forever Foundation, describing a community-built cedar-chest fundraiser to benefit student programming.

Ending The advisory committee—s next formal step is to compile member recommendations and present a consolidated advisory appropriation to the City Council during the council—s July meeting cycle. Committee members said they will ask SUU to itemize how any university-level award will be distributed to SUMA, USF and other SUU programs and to confirm whether any central administrative fee will be charged against awards.