After looking at the Pavilion’s finances from 2014 compared to 2013Â (Item A), I think it is time the city looks at bringing in a new management company.
Finance Doc (WPMI-OF)
While the Pavilion brought in over $800K more in 2014 at the end of the day, they had $63K less leftover then in 2013.
So what sticks out?
• Admission and ticket sales were up $757K from last year, which is a good thing, so where were the falters?
• Salary and benefits are almost $3.7 million dollars of their almost $7.5 million dollar budget (half of their entire budget) while programming is only $1.6 million of their budget.
• No major increase in the marketing budget.
• Memberships were down from 2013 (this is after they eliminated individual memberships and now charge to enter the VAC)
• Since it is a city owned building, all maintenance and upgrades to the building come from our CIP (2nd Penny) and not the Pavilion’s budget.
While the Pavilion claims they are an asset to our community, it seems they spend very little on actual programming and a lot on their employees, many from management, including the Operations manager and I believe the Finance Director have been there since day one.
It’s time the city explores a new management company to revamp the Pavilion, and truly make it a place for everyone (as was promised from the beginning).
It breaks my heart sometimes that a building I supported, worked at, donated to and exhibited in has lost it’s way due to poor management, and the finances are just the tip of the iceberg.
This folly is a left over from Munson. It’s the first example of why strong mayor Home Rule charter created a dictator without checks and balances. Face it, becoming mayor is the best way to satisfy your ego if you have no talent or qualifications. This said, the Pavilion is a granite landmark like the pyramids. The best way for it to make money is charging tourists to walk around it. One must learn about the Pharoah who used slaves and public money to build his tomb.
It’s not even about the $$$ anymore, it is about fulfilling their mission. Their mission seems to be, “Make sure management gets paid.”
Points taken. That said, their management structure is pretty reasonable for their budget when compared to similar organizations. They’ve got about 15 employees running an organization with a $7.5MM budget. It’s not nearly as out of line as you make it out to be. And certainly, there are a lot of employees there in non-management capacities required to make the place function; ticketing staff, maintenance, etc. Nonprofits that don’t run their own facilities don’t have to eat those costs directly.
Also, when you talk about program expenses being only $1.6MM of their budget, you don’t bother acknowledging that’s about a 60% increase year-over-year.
Again, I get your gripes about the Pavilion. Don’t even disagree with many of them. Facility utilization could be a lot better and more inclusive of the entire community. But you can’t take everything and try to cram it into your pre-existing narrative, ignoring the parts that undermine your arguments. That’s confirmation bias at its worst.
they should get rid of the cinedome, and build an imax theater instead. call it the “triple m imax”. i saw “home alone” over christmas with the kids, and that was the worst projected image i ever saw. the dome thing may have been cool 25 years ago, but now it is just horrible compared to modern technology.