AUBURN - Theater festival organizers are ready to move forward with a $325,000 master plan for an event that could draw more than 200,000 visitors to the city.
Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Director Ed Sayles appealed to the Cayuga County Ways and Means Committee Tuesday.
With $275,000 already promised by individual and nonprofit agency donations, the festival will need $25,000 each from the city and county.
“People will come here for this festival,” Sayles said, noting the playhouse draws about 60,000 on its own each year.
Sayles says the master plan would cover the logistics of hosting a fraction of the 31 million people living within a five-hour drive of the city.
The festival would require at least four venues and accommodations, some of which may require renovation.
“We're just trying to find places that would be interesting to see plays in that won't cost an unrealistic amount of money,” Sayles said.
In addition to the Playhouse, the Auburn Public Theater, Cayuga Community College theater and several vacant churches in the area would be considered.
The master plan will break down feasibility and costs as well as a budget for the first four years of the festival.
“The study will determine exactly how the festival would operate,” Sayles said.
Legislators were generally receptive to the idea and the contribution. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Dudley suggested festival organizers request a line item in the 2008 county budget, which is in the planning stages.
The festival could debut as early as 2010, but likely premiere in 2011. Francis Mitchell, R-Genoa, believed a festival contribution may fall out of the realm of government spending.
“I'd prefer the taxpayers to make their own contributions,” he said.
Festival coordinator Laura Coburn suggest the contribution would be more of an investment given the economic boost the event would give the city and county.
In other news:
* The committee unanimously approved raises for election inspectors and voting machine custodians beginning in 2008.
The current rates of $80 per primary election, $130 per general election and $50 per voting machine would be raised to $100, $150 and $75, respectively.
The rates would apply beginning with the 2008 presidential primary.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
With $275,000 already promised by individual and nonprofit agency donations, the festival will need $25,000 each from the city and county.
“People will come here for this festival,” Sayles said, noting the playhouse draws about 60,000 on its own each year.
Sayles says the master plan would cover the logistics of hosting a fraction of the 31 million people living within a five-hour drive of the city.
The festival would require at least four venues and accommodations, some of which may require renovation.
“We're just trying to find places that would be interesting to see plays in that won't cost an unrealistic amount of money,” Sayles said.
In addition to the Playhouse, the Auburn Public Theater, Cayuga Community College theater and several vacant churches in the area would be considered.
The master plan will break down feasibility and costs as well as a budget for the first four years of the festival.
“The study will determine exactly how the festival would operate,” Sayles said.
Legislators were generally receptive to the idea and the contribution. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Dudley suggested festival organizers request a line item in the 2008 county budget, which is in the planning stages.
The festival could debut as early as 2010, but likely premiere in 2011. Francis Mitchell, R-Genoa, believed a festival contribution may fall out of the realm of government spending.
“I'd prefer the taxpayers to make their own contributions,” he said.
Festival coordinator Laura Coburn suggest the contribution would be more of an investment given the economic boost the event would give the city and county.
In other news:
* The committee unanimously approved raises for election inspectors and voting machine custodians beginning in 2008.
The current rates of $80 per primary election, $130 per general election and $50 per voting machine would be raised to $100, $150 and $75, respectively.
The rates would apply beginning with the 2008 presidential primary.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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