Smart government includes the development of new sources of revenue to avoid lofty tax increases and cover growing bottom lines, while still trying to improve services and infrastructure across the board. And in Sag Harbor, the Village Board of Trustees has been trying to do just that — increase funding, including, most recently, implementing a paid parking program that may be unpopular, but has the potential to raise a significant amount of revenue on an annual basis for years to come.
Another proposal, introduced during a Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce meeting earlier this month, would increase fees for organizers that rely on village-owned property to host their events. The initial plan, as discussed, would set new fees as high as $2,000 for some special events and was wisely tabled at a Sag Harbor Village Board meeting on January 14, just one night after business leaders were pitched the plan. Trustees agreed they would take some time to review the fee schedule and, thankfully, pledged not to adopt the new law until members of the Chamber had a chance to weigh in.
The Chamber of Commerce is an all-volunteer organization, and despite being one of the few chambers that does not employ full-time, paid staff, has historically been one of the most engaged and effective chambers of commerce on the East End, hosting a half-dozen events annually that require the use of village-owned property.
These events, including HarborFest, the Ragamuffin Parade at Halloween, HarborFrost, two popular arts and crafts fairs, a sidewalk sale and events during the holiday season that celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah, draw crowds of visitors to Sag Harbor — and into restaurants and shops — and, perhaps more importantly, draw residents together. They are annual traditions that celebrate community and this very special waterfront village. They are part of the fabric of Sag Harbor, and largely run by volunteers — business owners and residents that take time out of their busy schedules to host events that support nonprofits, houses of worship, businesses and the community at large.
Other organizations like the Sag Harbor American Music Festival, the Sag Harbor Community Band and WLNG Radio produce a series of live music events that are free for the community to attend, and like Chamber events, use village-owned properties like the John Steinbeck Waterfront Park, Long Wharf, Marine Park. Beloved nonprofits like Katy’s Courage and In Jordan’s Honor host annual road races in the village. Under the proposed law, higher fees would also be applied to these events, to cover the cost of additional manpower needed for traffic and crowd control, safety, and extra hours for the public works department.
It is understandable that the village would want to recoup some of these expenses, and certainly more than it currently charges these organizations. But to impose a fee schedule that is several hundred, if not thousands of dollars more than what is currently in place is unreasonable at best, and stands to leave many of these organizations questioning if their events are financially feasible.
Again, most of these organizations are run by volunteers. Members of the Sag Harbor community would recognize them on Main Street as leaders who dedicate their time and effort to preserve what is left in Sag Harbor when it comes to community spirit. Would imposing these fees help the village, minimally, when it comes to increased revenues? Yes. But at what cost?
