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Trustees debate scale and cost of South Jacksonville celebration amid calls to recoup costs
Summary
Trustees discussed scaling back the South Jacksonville celebration to reduce village subsidy, including proposals to charge $5 per adult and eliminate free food; Trustee Retzer said last year's event cost more than $80,000.
Trustees discussed the cost and format of the South Jacksonville community celebration after Trustee Paula Belobrajdic‑Stewart submitted a handout with ideas. Trustee J.W. Coleman argued the village should recoup more of the expense — suggesting charging $5 per adult admission and ending free food — and said he found it difficult to justify large subsidies when other government costs are rising.
Trustee Steve Retzer said he recalled the event costing roughly $82,000 last year and questioned whether the village should continue subsidizing a carnival that does not drive substantial hotel stays. President Samples said he had "a hard time convincing myself to give the carnival people $67,000," and trustees agreed to revisit the event at the Committee of the Whole to decide whether to change format, pricing or dates.
