Fly Sun Valley Alliance wants the $50,000 that Sun Valley pledged this fiscal year, but never gave. The city couldn't hand over the money because it was discovered that a city couldn't legally give money to the alliance that would be used for guaranteeing minimum revenue to an airline serving the region. But the alliance is now proposing a different use for the money: club cards.
At a City Council budget meeting on Thursday, June 3, alliance Project Manager Neil Morrow described a valleywide club card program that would give cardholders discounts at participating businesses. And, he said, many businesses are already on board. A card would cost $150.
Morrow said the alliance is aiming to sell 5,000 cards, whose proceeds would fund minimum-revenue guarantees. But, he said, launching the card program would take a $50,000 initial cost. He said cards could be sold beginning in four weeks. Morrow said he'd also be asking Ketchum for $50,000 in personnel costs.
City Administrator Sharon Hammer said the original $50,000 is still sitting there and wouldn't require any new money.
The situation's not the same for six other groups waiting in line for a piece of the Sun Valley pie.
Ketchum's Parks and Recreation Department, Blaine County Housing Authority, Sustain Blaine, Mountain Rides Transportation Authority, and the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau are asking for 2011 fiscal year funding.
The city can't meet the $1.07 million worth of requests. Fiscal year 2010's contracts with groups totaled $751,000, and Mayor Wayne Willich's proposed 2011 contract budget includes $770,000 for those groups.
The Blaine County Housing Authority and Mountain Rides want more money. The mayor's budget falls short in both cases.
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The chamber has asked for 39 percent less, but Willich still thinks that's too much and has proposed shifting much of the money to a proposed marketing board.
Sustain Blaine is the only group that Willich wants to leave with nothing. Several council members were equally critical, wanting to see a list of achievements.
"A community organization like this takes time to birth," said Sustain Blaine member Harry Griffith about the year-old group, adding that that's especially true since all members are volunteers.
Member Jack Bariteau said Sustain Blaine is organizing a major event next spring for Sun Valley Resort's 75th anniversary.
However, Councilman Bob Youngman argued, Sustain Blaine has done little with the $15,000 given this year.
"Can you ever make progress?" Youngman asked.
Sustain Blaine is asking for $5,000 for next year, an amount that Youngman admitted is small.
"But the community has expectations that it's going to get something for it," he said.
The council will further discuss the groups' funding requests on Monday, June 14.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
Sun Valley Mayor Wayne Willich’s budget outlines no money for Fly Sun Valley Alliance because the $50,000 for the 2010 fiscal year was never given and still sits there. This money would be given and would require nothing out of the fiscal year 2011 budget. Express graphic by Trevon Milliard
