With the Española Fiesta several weeks behind it, the Fiesta Council is currently $2,780 in the black, but legislative and municipal funding could boost the Council’s budget surplus to more than $20,000, according to statistics provided by Council Treasurer Joe Garcia.
“We still have some bits of revenue that need to post and we’re going to have expenses from going to the Santa Fe Fiesta, but we’re anticipating a profit of about $20,487,” Joe Garcia said. “We’re really pleased.”
A $15,000 appropriation from the state Tourism Department and $5,100 from the city’s Lodger’s Tax Board have yet to be applied as revenue. Both awards have been approved but have not actually been transferred into the Council’s bank account.
The profit expected from this year’s Fiesta trumps that of the 2007 Fiesta by about $14,000 and is in sharp contrast to the 2006 Fiesta, which the city had to bail out of a $16,000 debt.
The Council managed to raise $38,967 from a variety of fund-raising events and the solicitation of donors and sponsors for the event. Combined with the $6,685 leftover from the 2007 Fiesta, this year’s Council managed to stay within its projected budget of $50,000.
“There were a lot of sleepless nights in February, when I was worrying if we would be able to raise the $50,000 or not,” Council President and SUN Advertising Director Maria Garcia (Joe Garcia is her husband) said. “We were raising $500 at a time. The teen dances would raise $400 and we would have to pay the deejay $250.”
Maria Garcia said the turning point was when several casinos signed on as sponsors. Cities of Gold Casino sponsored an event tent in addition to donating money to the Fiesta. Big Rock Casino also played a large part by sponsoring a pre-party held to thank workers.
Prior to the Fiesta, the Council raised more than $17,000 by hosting teen dances, fund-raising dinners, a rummage sale and by soliciting donations.
Revenues from the actual Fiesta helped boost the Council’s finances comfortably into the black, even before the city or the state kicked in their pledged amounts.
The Council pulled in $9,100 from booth rentals at the Fiesta, which was its largest source of revenue. Joe Garcia said the Council sold out all of its 38 available booths.
“The booths really surprised me,” Joe Garcia said. “We sold out and had to turn people away. I’ve been to other events where there will be five or 10 vendors. It was great to have that many.”
In addition, a carnival run by Moriarty-based Bennett’s Amusement brought in $4,877 and the Council’s Grand Baile generated $3,769 in ticket sales.
Maria Garcia estimated at least 750 people attended the Grand Baile, which was held July 11 at the Ohkay Owingeh Convention Center. Garcia said between 4,000 and 6,000 attended the Fiesta, which was held from July 11 to 13.
Most of the Council’s expenses centered on entertainment, with the three highest paid-performers making several thousand dollars for their work. The Council paid Mariachi Azteca $3,000; Los Blue Ventures made $2,850; and Tobias Rene received $2,000.
Besides entertainment, the Council’s biggest expenses were advertising and equipment rental. Advertising in newspapers, including the Rio Grande SUN, and KDCE radio station cost $6,083. The Council received a break on much its advertising costs in the SUN, as the newspaper donated $2,535 in advertising.
In addition, the Council forked out more than $5,000 to rent porta-potties, tents and an electric generator.
Joe Garcia said he anticipates about $2,392.93 in additional expenses for upcoming Fiestas to which the Española Royal Court is required to travel and several other small items, such as plaques for Fiesta sponsors.
Fiesta Royalty traveled to the Taos Fiesta July 18, 19 and 20 and will attend the Santa Fe Fiesta in September to represent Española.