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Meridian Center seeks higher revenue to reduce city subsidy; staff cite staffing and deferred maintenance
Summary
Officials said the Meridian Center aims to raise monthly revenue from a $34,000 2025 target to $38,000 in 2026, expand sales and events and reduce the annual city subsidy, while acknowledging staff shortages and deferred maintenance.
City staff presented the Meridian Center's 2026 budget and told commissioners the event venue is trying to increase revenue and reduce its reliance on city transfers.
The center set a 2025 revenue goal of $34,000 per month and a 2026 target of $38,000 per month, staff said. "That goal is set to be able to cover operations so that the city subsidy would only be for the building itself," the presenter said. Staff acknowledged the goal is ambitious and may not be met immediately.
Staff described recent accomplishments such as hosting proms, conferences and a 400-person plated dinner on limited staffing. The center hired a full-time operations manager late in the prior year and has retained temporary staff for large events.
Current staffing assumptions in the 2026 request include a full-time operations manager, a full-time event sales manager, a 30-hour chef and a 30-hour prep cook, plus temporary staff for large events. Staff said 30-hour positions qualify for benefits and provide flexibility to increase hours when events demand it.
Officials said the Meridian Center has deferred maintenance needs, an aging audio-visual system that likely needs replacement in 2026, and other equipment nearing end of life (China, glass, fair-service items and other kitchen/service equipment). To address operations and improve marketability, the 2026 draft shows increased transfers to support personnel lines and funding to implement an improvement plan covering interior and exterior repairs.
The presenter said the original financial pro forma included an ongoing operational support amount of roughly $330,000 from the city and that the city has been trying to reduce reliance on that level of subsidy over time. Staff said the Commission had previously decided that the community benefits of the event venue justify some level of subsidy paid from sales tax.
Staff emphasized ongoing efforts to increase bookings, update menus, improve branding and operate more efficiently; they also recommended continued marketing and a potential 15th-anniversary celebration in 2026 to raise revenue. No final subsidy change was decided at Thursday's session; commissioners were alerted that transfers to the center will remain a recurring budget item.
