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Berry Chamber asks Perry to restore $20,000 annual funding; city staff notes contract line item in draft budget
Summary
The Berry Chamber of Commerce asked the Perry City Council to restore annual operating support to $20,000 and said the chamber had reconstituted its governance and invested in community events; staff said the draft budget currently proposes $15,000 for chamber support and asked council for direction.
Perry — Kate Harris, speaking for the Berry Chamber of Commerce, asked the Perry City Council on Thursday to restore the chamber’s annual contract funding to $20,000 and described the organization’s recent governance changes and new programs.
Harris told council the chamber has undergone “a transformation” over the past six months, renewed its nonprofit status, paid for and committed $50,000 toward a carnival event during the Cherokee Strip Celebration, and set aside $4,000 for economic-development efforts in its current budget.
“We are requesting the city restore our original annual funding of $20,000,” Harris said, saying the requested funding would allow the chamber to expand economic-development programming, build business-workforce partnerships, and host community events.
City staff said the draft FY 2025–26 budget currently includes $15,000 for the chamber (down from a prior $20,000 allocation), and the city manager asked council for direction on whether to restore the original $20,000. Staff also noted that the budget line item for ‘contracts/outsourced services’ includes funds for Main Street and other community groups and asked council whether it wished to change allocations.
Why it matters: the chamber’s request would be an on-going appropriation and therefore part of the operating budget; council members asked for additional time to review the chamber’s financial materials and the draft budget line items.
Ending: council did not take immediate action on the request. Staff said the funding level and contract terms can be revisited during the budget adoption process and asked council members to provide guidance before the June public hearing.
