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Lubbock County to contribute $10,000 toward Slaton Fourth of July celebration
Summary
The commissioners voted to provide $10,000 from unclaimed funds to the Slaton Chamber of Commerce to support its long-running Fourth of July event; chamber leaders said the event draws thousands and helps fund year-round community programming.
The Lubbock County Commissioners Court voted to provide $10,000 from county unclaimed funds to the Slaton Chamber of Commerce to support the town's Fourth of July celebration.
Slaton Chamber President Danielle Tockmit told the court the event has been held in the community for decades and in recent years has returned to the downtown square. She described live music, a parade, vendor booths, carnival activities and family programming that draw visitors from outside the town and provide revenue that helps fund other chamber events throughout the year.
Tockmit said the parade begins at 9:30 a.m. and the celebration runs from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; she estimated that aside from Slaton's population of nearly 6,000 residents the event can draw roughly 2,000 to 3,000 people over the day. She described budget items including portable restrooms, power for band equipment, extra policing, pageant prizes and new attractions such as a mechanical bull. The chamber presented an estimated event budget of roughly $11,000 and asked the county to sponsor the event.
Commissioner Corley moved to provide $10,000; Commissioner Dolby seconded the motion. The court recorded a unanimous voice vote of "Aye" with no opposition.
The county administration cited Texas law in presenting the request: the staff report references sections of state code (meeting remarks cite the Texas Property Code and the Texas Local Government Code) as the basis for using local government promotional or arts funds. County staff said the award will be processed from the county's unclaimed funds rather than drawing on currently allocated departmental budgets.
Tockmit said businesses on the square benefit from the event and that proceeds help support other chamber activities including trunk-or-treat and a small-town Christmas. She noted the chamber uses local media and radio for advertising and said additional outreach is something the chamber would like to expand.
Ending: County staff will process payment to the Slaton Chamber; the court did not attach additional conditions on the award in the public record.
