Proposed Fee Increases in West Chester Could Place Popular Outdoor Street Events in Jeopardy

By

Image via the West Chester Rotary Chili Cook-Off.

Nonprofit groups that sponsor popular outdoor street events in downtown West Chester are worried that the borough’s proposal to increase event fees may place the events themselves in jeopardy, writes Michael Rellahan for the Daily Local News.

Last month, members of the West Chester Borough Public Safety Committee and Finance Committee released figures they contend reflect the actual costs the borough incurs for events – like the Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic, the West Chester Rotary Chili Cook-Off, the Clydesdales Parade, and the annual West Chester Christmas Parade – versus what is actually paid in fees by the sponsoring organizations.

The differences were striking.

[uam_ad id=”79359″]

For example, the two committees claim the difference between what the West Chester Rotary Club was charged for its 2017 chili event and the actual costs incurred was $14,470. The Rotary Club paid $2,973 in fees in 2017, plus the contribution of parking fees generated at the borough’s two garages.

“We want to have a dialogue and find a solution that works for everybody,” said Mark Yoder, president of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. “But we are on a razor-thin margin. We don’t have money to cover those (increased) fees.”

Read more about West Chester Borough and event fees in the Daily Local News by clicking here.

[uam_ad id=”80081″]

Connect With Your Community

Subscribe to stay informed!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Advertisement
Creative Capital logo