ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria is providing The Center of Anna Maria Island with $25,000 in annual funding.
On Thursday, May 27, the city commission unanimously supported Mayor Dan Murphy’s recommendation to provide The Center with the same amount the city provided last year. The money will be taken from the city’s recreational fund that had a $35,000 balance prior to expenditures for the city-sponsored Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute.
Murphy said he finds The Center’s $25,000 annual request to be reasonable. He also said the city plans to help The Center recoup some of its lost 2020 revenues when the city receives its first installment of American Rescue Act funds.
The city expects to receive a total of approximately $740,000, with the 2021 installment expected to be approximately $370,000. Murphy told the commission and Center Executive Director Chris Culhane that the exact amount of the American Rescue Act funds to be shared with The Center and three other non-profit organizations can’t be determined until the federal funds are in hand.
Commissioner John Crane would still like to see The Center tighten its belt a little.
“It seems like every year The Center falls a little short. It seems odd that an entity that doesn’t pay any rent still can’t make ends meet. I’m a big believer in how good The Center is for the community, but I would like to see a little more fiscal responsibility,” he said.
Crane said he hopes The Center’s financial shortfall is less next year.
Commissioner Joe Muscatello said he thinks a small city paying $25,000 for a facility like The Center is a great deal compared to most other small towns in America. He said some towns he’s lived in have paid $300,000 to $400,000 a year for such a facility.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring noted that under Culhane’s leadership, The Center has added new programs and activities – including the recently resumed revenue-generating concert series that was postponed last year due to the pandemic. Sebring said she’s encouraged by what she sees in The Center’s financial records.
Commission Chair Carol Carter said The Center is doing a much better job of balancing its budget than it was five or six years ago. She also praised The Center’s environmentally-friendly Go Green Campaign that helps preserve the Island’s fragile natural environment.
After acknowledging that he serves as a volunteer member of The Center’s Finance Committee, Commissioner Mark Short said, “Can The Center sharpen its pencil a little better in terms of watching costs? The answer is obviously yes, but I think that goes to us individually, to the city and to any other business that’s out there. I’ve been involved with The Center since early 2018 and I’ve seen a remarkable improvement.”
Short said The Center administration did an admirable job of controlling costs while experiencing decreased revenues during the peak of the COVID pandemic.
Thursday’s discussion was a follow-up to the May 13 meeting, when Culhane presented The Center’s annual funding request. After Thursday’s vote occurred, Culhane thanked the mayor and commission for their continued support.
