For the second time in two months, Woodstock councilmember Bennet Ratcliff was unsuccessful in getting the town government to spend surplus funds on arts organizations.
Ratcliff this month proposed to make the town an official sponsor of the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra by providing $750 in funding this year out of the town’s surplus.
The motion failed to gain traction, town supervisor Bill McKenna and councilmembers Anula Courtis and Laura Ricci maintained that it wasn’t fair to pick just one of the many arts organizations in need. The Woodstock Symphony Orchestra has approached the town for help.
Ratcliff previously attempted to fund the Woodstock Film Festival.
According to tax returns from 2022, the orchestra reported income of $65,426 from contributions, with $64,558 in expenses. Nobody takes compensation or salaries.
Ratcliff previously attempted to get town funding for the Woodstock Film Festival. He and Conte proposed giving $13,000 to the Woodstock Film Festival to cover a venue doubling its rent.
Woodstock Film Festival Inc.’s total revenues were $1,205,104, and its expenses were $1,195,390 in 2022. Executive director Meira Blaustein was paid $80,000 that year.
“Any time we’re going to spend money, we do need to all understand, not just for one item, but where it fits in the whole picture,” Ricci said.
McKenna and Courtis are compiling a list of possible arts organizations worthy of town funding. The Woodstock Symphony Orchestra is on the list.
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