The city might boot the bull next year after an annual event had fewer tickets sales and cost Trail about $25,000 to run this year.
The Kootenay Chrysler Bull-a-Rama saw about a 10 per cent decrease in tickets sales over the 2013 show, and less people attending the Saturday night dance meant a 32 per cent decline in liquor sales during the April 26 event in the Trail Memorial Centre.
Overall, the expenses totalling almost $84,000 were on target but additional overhead such as ambulance services and overnight security at the Trail Horseman’s Society Grounds had the organizing committee bucking up an extra $6,800.
The 13-year event isn’t officially shelved by the city, but was a topic of discussion at Monday’s governance meeting when council agreed to review the Bull-a-Rama committee’s re-shuffling proposal, however, the decision to again back the event will rest in the hands of Trail’s new council post the Nov. 15 civic election.
“The committee is obviously looking at this and recognizes that there were several other functions going on and we did lose some sponsors,” said Coun. Eleanor Gattafoni Robinson on behalf of the event’s committee. “But the remaining ones are still very supportive and we are investigating other avenues so we can go down this path together and bring back a report to council in the next couple of months.”
The Bull-a-Rama was already on shaky legs in February when Trail council debated sponsoring the event that, since 2008, has cost the city about $91,000.
At that time, city staff recommended that council consider removing the event from the 2015 operating budget, unless an outside promoter or organizer stepped in to take over the financial exposure.
“This year’s cost revenue over expenses...doesn’t include our direct staff time and actual cost associated with the city, rental and the like,” noted David Perehudoff, Trail’s chief administrative officer.
The current financial summary in conjunction with the previous resolution, suggests council forward the matter immediately to the committee for commentary about how the event could be reorganized to limit the city’s loss going forward, he added.