Levan council increases July 24 celebration budget to $12,000; organizers plan breakfast, 5K and rodeo

The Levan Town Council set a $12,000 budget for the town’s July 24 celebration and discussed event components and fundraising strategies at its Feb. 12 meeting.

McKenzie Stowell had contacted the council about organizing the event again this year. Christine Carrigan said last year’s celebration expenses totaled about $26,000 but fundraising reduced the town’s net cost to just over $10,000, which fit the prior $10,000 budget. "While last year's celebration expenses totaled $26,000, fundraising efforts brought in enough money so that the town's actual cost was just over $10,000," Carrigan said. Council members agreed to raise the budget to $12,000 for the coming year to provide a modest cushion.

Council members discussed revenue-generating and loss-leading components: the breakfast typically brings in money, the 5K generates participation fees, and the evening dinner runs at a loss when charged below cost. The council discussed last year’s professional concert featuring Nathan Osmond and the potential to include a ranch rodeo; Jared Crump volunteered to run a speed-roping rodeo for kids limited to about 50 entrants and to end by 10 p.m. rather than running into the early morning, which the council supported as a way to limit late-night noise and staffing costs.

The council emphasized staying within the increased budget and relying on donations and sponsorships to cover higher-cost items. No formal vote was required to set the budget item within the event-planning discussion; organizers will continue fundraising and planning with town staff.