Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Fees going up for special events
WEST CHESTER » Borough fees will increase for two popular uptown events.
The Chili Cook-off and the QVC Christmas Parade will cost sponsors 5 percent more in 2019, beyond out of pocket expenses.
The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Christmas parade and the West Chester Rotary runs the charitable Chili Cook-off.
Borough fees will be used to offset safety measures, including the cost for borough police, fire and ambulance service. The full costs were recently recalculated.
Council grappled at several recent meetings to decide how much taxpayers or event-goers should pay for community events.
“What’s right for the Christmas Parade is not right for the chili cook-off,” Councilman Michael Galey, Ward 3, said. “It’s difficult to find a one size fits all solution.”
For the 2018 Chili- Cookoff, the Rotary was charged $2,973. That number will increase $148, which is short of the estimated cost of $17,443. The Rotary donates all proceeds from the event to charity.
The Chamber paid $11,616 for 2018 to sponsor the parade attended by about 40,000 spectators and would realize an increase of $580 toward the estimated $20,147 cost.
Councilman Bernie Flynn spearheaded the
drive to re-calculate the costs. Flynn favored charging more than 5 percent. He suggested an additional fee of $1,000 per year, until the full amount is levied.
It would take more than a decade for both sponsors to catch up and pay the full costs.
Flynn was the only member of council in favor of charging more than 5 percent and was the lone “no” vote on council.
“I feel that the taxpayers in the borough are getting cheated,” Flynn said after the vote.
Council discussed meeting costs using “creative solutions.” It was suggested that a small admission fee could be charged, like is collected at Kennett Square’s annual Mushroom Festival. Parents might be charged for photos with
Santa or the cost of event parking in garages might rise to $20.
Flynn also noted that two community events, the Budweiser Clydesdale visit and Super Sunday will no long take place. He said that Super Sunday was a duplication of the Restaurant Festival, with many of the same vendors.
The borough is considering moving the Cinco de Mayo festivities uptown from the Melton Center or establishing a Community Unity Day.
The borough will continue to sponsor, and pick up the full tab for, the Benchmark Twilight Bicycle race and Restaurant Festival.