By: Libi Uremovic | Original Article at patch.com
The City of Beaumont Can Not Afford to Sponsor the Chamber of Commerce Parties
Beaumont Agenda Item 4.a is a letter dated January 26th from the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce to the City requesting approval of seven ‘task orders’ totaling $34,0000.
The ‘professional services’ performed by the Chamber includes $700/month for a newsletter and Sponsorship of the following Events:
State of the City $2,500
Installation Dinner $3,500
Business Expo $7,500
Special Guest Speaker Luncheons $1.500 – Maximum of 3 Annually
Cherry Pancake Breakfast $2,500
Market Night $5,000
Let’s Review:
The City of Beaumont pays for the concerts and all expenses associated with Market Night.
The City pays Chamber $5,000 to sponsor Market Night.
The Chamber collects and retains the vendor fees from Market Night.
The City paid the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce $27,562.88 in Fiscal Year 2014/2015. The City does not yet have a Budget for the current Fiscal Year, but Council knows they are starting out with a Deficit. Their checkbook is already overdrawn.
The Beaumont Chamber of Commerce was Incorporated on June 21,1954. The intent of a chamber of commerce is to promote local area businesses, but statistics show the opposite results in Beaumont.
At the July 28, 2015 Special Meeting Urban Futures Consultants stated that City Sales Tax was lower than other cities the size of Beaumont. Giving the Chamber taxpayer money to throw parities and take pictures does nothing to promote economic growth.
Agenda Item 4.a: http://www.ci.beaumont.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/26138