Thursday, November 15, 2012

Numbers, Figure this mess out and win a big prize.


After numerous requests to compare the various numbers that have been presented on the Rum Runner Days I will attempt to provide that information. It’s very hard to do because to have a true comparison you need to use the same categories in each case but that was not done so it becomes difficult. All the numbers in black were the ones presented to the Rum Runner Days committee on Feb 22, the numbers in green were the one’s provided by Councillor Saindon on March 13, finally the numbers in red are the one’s provided to the public at the Nov 6 council meeting.

Total revenue of $93,750 made up of the following:
Cash on Hand $0    $16,000
Municipal contribution $50,000  $50,000 $40,000
Carnival rides $2,500 $2,500
Business Licenses $2,250 $3,000
Vendor Permits $4,500 $6,000
Camping $16,500 $10,000
Thunder in the Valley $3,000 $2,000
Lions Club $2,000 $2,000
Parking Shuttle $13,000 $9,500
Municipal Soft Costs $25,000
Friday Night Wine and Arts $1,500
Saturday Night Concert $15,000
Saturday Night Food and Beverage $2,500
Merchandise Sales $15,000
Show and Shine Revenue $2,500
Sponsorships $19,247
Revenues from Venues and Merchandise Sales $16,944
Cost Recoveries $9,260

With costs of the following which added up to $168,880:
Municipal staff costs $32,280 $19,200 $9,010
Municipal equipment $10,000 $0
Municipal office $11,200 $6,600
Advertising $3,000 $3,000
Website design/modifications $3,500 $3,500
Promotion $2,000 $2,000
Washroom rentals $16,500 $12,500
Waste pickup and disposal $4,000 $4,000
Security Fencing $500 $1,500
Tent and Accessories rental $1,500 $2,500
Lethbridge Search and Rescue $7,500 $0
RCMP Policing $35,000 $20,000
Regional Peace Officers/Sheriffs $25,000 $15,000
Bus Rentals $9,600 $1,920
Donation to Boys and Girls Club $2,000 $1,500
Donation to Coleman Society $1,800 $1,500
Donation to Kanaskis Rodeo $2,000 $1,500
Donation to Quad Squad $1,500 $1,500
Wine and Art night $1,500
Saturday Night concert $8,500
Gazebo Park Entertainment $3,000
Kids Show $3,500
Stage Rental $13,500
Show and Shine Merchandise $4,000
Merchandise Purchase Costs $20,000
Advertising and promotions (Including T-shirts) $25,642
Bank Charges $76
Entertainment, Parade and Show and Shine $33,316
Licenses, permits and Insurance $390
Printing, Copying, Paper, Postage $3,420
Transportation $640
Port a potties, Handwash Stations and Dumpsters $5,561
Security (Includes RCMP) $18,017
Signage $2,394


Confused? I am typing this and pride myself on being good with numbers but this boggles my mind.
Let’s try to decipher things a little bit maybe the confusion and hysteria that came with these numbers were created for a reason.

Revenue Feb 22, $93,750  March 13, $160,500  November 6, $85,452
Costs Feb 22, $168,880 March 13, $151,720 November 6, $89,456
Loss Feb 22, $75,130 March 13, $8,780 (profit) November 6, $4,004 (loss)

Now let us compare a few of the categories that make up the numbers above:

Municipal staff costs went from $32,280 to $19,200 to $9,010
Municipal equipment from $10,000 to zero to zero
Washroom rentals, waste pickup and dumpsters $20,500 to $16,500 to $5,561
Policing/Peace Officers $60,000 to $35,000 to $18,017

 Just in the four area’s above you have numbers going from $122,780 to $70,700 to $32,588.

Anybody get the feeling that the numbers were inflated for a reason? Imagine if they were going to buy a piece of equipment and the first quote they received was for $1,227,800 then the second quote was for $707,000 then the actual price was $325,880. You would look at the salesmen like they were idiots.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of the reasons cited at the time, for councils decision to cancel TITV, was projected associated costs being way too high for the four day event. Funny how they did not even come close.

Granted we did not have TITV costs in this November's tally, however, supposedly the money for TITV itself was raised and paid for by the TITV committee through 50/50 raffle and T-shirt sales, not by the Municipality.

Can you say "What the h*ll???"

Anonymous said...

"Confused?"... NOT AT ALL! The numbers swept under the carpet must be posted in invisable ink.
Dean, it is a bit difficult to post that.

Anonymous said...

What is the prize? :)

Anonymous said...

Isn't is time to forget about all this, there will never be another rum runners days.

Anonymous said...

Confused not at all throw out big numbers to cancel the event, then drag out the real numbers for a long time in the hope that people don't care. Not confusing at all.

Marty

Anonymous said...

I have made a FOIP request including this:

"The full accounts of RRD2012 (of which a summary was issued Nov. 6)."

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:22 You should never forget.Council spent 40,000 of taxpayers money to host this disaster, we must make sure they never do this again.
For the big prize, they inflate the numbers to help justify cancelling TITV.Then they decide they will show us that they can put on RRD without TITV an make it a huge success.It turns out to be a total flop.3 months later they come out with an income statement that very few people would beleive to try and save face.An example of the unbelievable is where did that 16,000 cash on hand go.So its egg on the face for council for deferring TITV.Of course by now we all know that the defering was a big lie.
I have read Gallants blog and Siegs letter to the editor and I read the Mayors newsletter and I find a very common theme.They keep telling us "that it is not our fault". We have had many issues over the past 2 years and it is always someone elses fault.Council is suppose to be the LEADERS of this community. They have failed miserably.

Anonymous said...

So are these same people staying on top of the municipal budget. Boy are we ever in trouble.

Anonymous said...

does anyone know if you can request an audit of your towns finances it would be intresting to see how things are running in the crowsnest pass