Port Richey committee reviews Centennial event finances, vendor rules and safety requirements

PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The Port Richey City Citizen Advisory Committee on April 22 examined final sales and sponsorships from this spring's Centennial events, agreed to several small budget moves and set deadlines to resolve vendor, signage and liability questions before the next meeting.

The committee learned it has collected $53,305 in sponsorship funds and modest ticket and merchandise income — including six shirts and three challenge coins sold — and received final attendance counts for several events: 13 entrants in the fishing tournament and about 12 business participants signed up for the upcoming business expo.

Committee members said they would keep remaining Centennial receipts in the city's event accounts while staff and counsel determine whether the city can legally redirect leftover sponsorship money to an outside nonprofit. "Cities can support nonprofits through grant processes," the vice chairwoman said during the meeting, adding that general donations likely require additional legal review. Bill Rutherford, a fishing tournament captain, was identified as running a nonprofit called Vet Catch and committee members discussed whether any leftover funds might be used to support its work by formal grant or other approved mechanism.

Finance staff walked members through options for preserving leftover event funds. The city's finance director explained Florida law requires most unspent revenues to roll into the next…