By Cristina Kumka and Polly Lynn
At the June 2 Killington Select Board meeting, the Board unanimously asked Town Manager Seth Webb and the newly formed KPAA (Killington Pico Area Association) to present them with a proposal for how the town’s marketing and special events program could be outsourced to the KPAA via an annual contract.
Webb recently answered follow up questions from the Mountain Times regarding the plan’s financial details.
According to the 2014 budget, roughly $264,000 was spent on administration, special events and marketing inside the town’s EDT department. That budget is approximately $16,000 down from the prior year’s spending, Webb reported.
The town of Killington earned $844,507 in local options tax revenues in calendar year 2014 to fund town expenses and marketing and events, according to state figures.
$395,483 of that revenue came from the sales and use portion of the local option tax; $286,833 was generated through the meals/alcohol, and rooms portion.
The entire $844,507 flows through the town’s general fund, and is also used to offset general town expenses including debt at the town-owned golf course and marketing and special events.
Revenue for the KPAA currently comes in the form of membership dues, merchant pass sales, 4241’ magazine sales, event proceeds, sponsorship, and building rentals.
At the June 2 meeting, some residents questioned what money would be used to pay for additional staff and what organization — the KPAA or the town — that staff would report to.
The KPAA is proposing to enlist Amy Morrison as its director. Morrison currently works as the town’s part-time EDT director and is paid through the town of Killington.
Webb said that now that the Selectboard has approved the concept, the KPAA is drafting the contract proposal and plans to present it along with a budget request in early July.
“The KPAA concept paper outlined that the KPAA would seek to execute the plan as passed in the town budget,” Webb said, adding “KPAA spending would be subject to the approval of the Town/Selectboard, as all other spending is.”
Webb said there would be no change to funding for the municipal golf course because of the KPAA contract.
