Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council sets $400,000 placeholder for ACA, ACA reports million-dollar quartet at a $248K year-to-date deficit
Summary
Council approved a $400,000 budget amendment to support the Aurora Civic Center Authority, to be funded by a prospective amusement/entertainment tax; ACA reported Million Dollar Quartet is operating at a year-to-date deficit of about $248,000 through October and plans extensions and price adjustments.
The City Council on Dec. 9 amended the 2026 budget to add $400,000 for the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACA), with the funding source listed as a future amusement/entertainment tax. The amendment passed on a roll-call vote and the finance committee will draft a proposed ordinance for tax collection and administration.
Tim Raider, CEO of the ACA, reported that Million Dollar Quartet (MDQ) generated a net deficit (year-to-date through October) of roughly $248,000. Raider said early audience satisfaction and repeat attendance are strong, but the production’s margins are thin. ACA plans pricing adjustments (a planned increase to $75 for upcoming limited engagements) and promotional strategies, and said it will announce extensions and seasonal programming next year.
Council debated administrative costs of collecting a dedicated entertainment tax, whether comp tickets should be exempt, and the effect of a ticket surcharge on market competitiveness and subscription sales. Supporters said the tax can provide a stable funding stream for downtown entertainment, leveraging broader spending at restaurants and retailers; others urged the ACA to increase ticket prices modestly or absorb some short-term losses.
The amendment places the $400,000 in the budget contingent on drafting an appropriate municipal ordinance and establishing collection and distribution procedures; staff said details such as exemptions for nonprofits, treatment of comped tickets, and administrative fees would be developed through the finance committee.
