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Commission hears budget pressure from theatre upgrades; art purchase line reduced
Summary
Commission staff reported a declining fund balance driven in part by O'Fallon Theatre Works spending, a reduction of an $85,000 decor line to $80,000 and deferral of a $15,000 technology item to $30,000 in 2026 while the commission considers how art purchases will be integrated with theatre improvements.
O'Fallon Cultural Arts Commission members were told at their August meeting that the commission's fund balance is decreasing, driven in part by capital and program spending on O'Fallon Theatre Works.
Kelly, presenting the financial report, told commissioners the current 2025 budget projection (as of July 16) shows several line-item changes: a decor allocation that had been $85,000 will be reduced to $80,000, and a planned $15,000 purchase of marketing/technology software will be deferred and reconfigured as a $30,000 line in the 2026 draft budget because of recent price increases. Kelly also said many theatre-related purchases remain to be completed and that the theatre improvements will likely take another year before all purchases are installed and operational.
"The O'Fallon Theater Works, a lot of money is getting put into that this year," staff said, noting the project has contributed to the short-term reduction in the fund balance. Commissioners responded that wrapping art purchases into theatre improvements made sense if it helps the venue get to a finished state.
Staff indicated the commission has historically earmarked roughly 5% of revenues for art purchases but that the theatre improvements have already exceeded that share this year. Commissioners asked that draft numbers be clarified as part of the 2026 budget process. No formal vote on budget changes occurred at the meeting; staff said amendments will be reflected in the next budget documents and ultimately go to City Council for adoption.
The commission's next steps are to finalize the 2026 draft for review and to monitor remaining theatre expenditures before committing separate art-purchase funds. The commission did not adopt new budget bylaws at the August meeting.
