BY MORGAN RYAN
The Orange City Council made the decision to severely reduce the city’s sponsorship program, eliminating all monetary funding for community organizations that rely on the city’s support to organize fundraisers and special events.
The council made the controversial decision at a meeting on Feb. 11 after much deliberation and outcry from the community.
Scaling back funding for community groups is not a new concept for the Orange City Council — last September the council opted to limit the amount of money applicants could receive from the city, capping the amount at $1,000. Previously, certain organizations were given as much as $5,000 in monetary donations.
Groups affected by the amendment include the Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival, the Sorosis Club and the Everybody is Somebody Multicultural Festival, all of which were mentioned by name in the discussion leading up to the decision.
“They should be sustainable,” said Mayor Kelli Marks. “How old are these events? If they can’t afford it after so many years, then they shouldn’t be in business.”
Larger organizations like the Blue Spring Manatee Festival use their profits toward local outreach, including educational scholarships to local students and donations to DARE and Volusia County 4-H.
According to their profit-and-loss statement, the festival profited almost $63,000 in 2023. Of the $63,000, the organization donated $32,000 to various charities. After donations and expenses, the Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival Inc. profited almost $6,000.
Some council members and citizens believe that it’s unnecessary for the city to continue to donate money to the organization when they are making such immense profits.
“They didn’t have to give all that money away,” said Orange City resident Leah Brooks. “They donated money to the community, which sounds lovely, but why are we giving them money?”
Other organizations, such as the Everybody is Somebody Multicultural Festival, say they rely on the city’s help to be able to put on their event.
Unlike the Blue Spring Manatee Festival, Everybody is Somebody does not charge for admission, and only profits from vendors and donations. Any money made from the festival goes to their youth outreach program.
“We don’t charge,” said Sharon Stafford, founder of Everybody is Somebody and sister to Council Member Lisa Stafford. “You say if you can’t sustain after these many years, you need to stop it. It wasn’t for sustainability. It was for our community coming together as one.”
According to Stafford, the festival only profited $46 in 2023.
“When you throw a rock, it’s going to hit me too,” she said.
According to the Orange City 2023-2024 fiscal year budget, the city allocated $28,500 in monetary funds to be used toward the sponsorship program. Organizations could apply for up to $1,000 of city funding, and donations were given on a first come, first served basis.
Now that the sponsorship program is no longer in place, Mayor Marks suggested the extra money be used toward hiring an official city-event coordinator.
“The event coordinator would be handling the paperwork and insurance for the events,” she said.
Marks believes the position could potentially take some strain off the city government office, which in turn would lead to more community events and outreach in the future.
The newly amended budget would still allow for in-kind requests from organizations looking to host events in Orange City.
In-kind support would include police, fire and medical personnel present at such events. It could also include fee waivers to use city parks, and city employees to help with setup and cleanup.
“We need to make sure we’re not sacrificing safety,” said Council Member Dawn Tiamson.
The council voted 4-3, with Marks, Council Members Dana Knight, Harold Grimm and Tiamson voting to do away with monetary donations. Council Members Lisa Richardson, Fran Darms and Lisa Stafford voted to keep them.
The newly amended program will take effect in October 2025 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
I am dying to know who the “Official Events Coordinator” will be. Possibly KMarks Events or a sister company? Also, why do you keep quoting Leah Brooks? She is not on the council nor does she hold any position within the city. She is a solid supporter and personal friend of Kelli and will ALWAYS agree with her, probably to her detriment at times. This is suspect on so many levels.
If you had come to the council meeting and voiced your opinion, you would have probably been quoted, too. You know what is suspect on so many levels? That no one from the Sorosis Club or Manatee Festival showed up to explain their handling of the money that the city has given them year after year after year. As a board member for the Sorosis Club, you, Laurie, should have been there. You can publicly smear me all you want, but know that I didn’t present just my opinion. I presented financial statements from the Sorosis Club and Manatee Festival and showed how this money, entrusted to your organizations by the taxpayers and the city, was misused and mismanaged. You had many,many opportunities to defend yourself and you stayed silent.
Nobody is smearing you. They need to get unbiased comments, at least from someone other than in her inner circle. It’s none of your business why I wasn’t there. I didn’t think there was any way the city was going to cut ALL funding to ALL organizations. That’s just hateful and vindictive. Especially when only a few months ago Kelli said she wanted MORE organizations to apply, so making it $1000 max would encourage that. Funny that since Backpack Buddies gets no sponsorship, nobody else does now either. Oh, wait, except for in-kind donations, and guess what BB does receive? And please, tell me more about this “coordinator” position. SMH.
You’re right – it isn’t any of my business. It’s funny that you mention hatefulness and vindictiveness, because watching so much of it play out over the last couple of years is the reason why I did my deep dive. As my husband said to me, “The root of so much spite and anger is likely power, money, or both. Go digging.” I do hope that one day there can be peace for the sake of everyone involved.
You’re right – it isn’t any of my business. It’s funny that you mentioned the meanness, because watching so much of it play out over the last couple of years is the reason why I did my deep dive. As my husband said to me, “The root of so much spite and anger is likely power, money, or both. Go digging.” I do hope that one day there can be peace for the sake of everyone involved.
This is such a disgrace and slap in the face to the community. These organizations’ sole purpose is for the families of this community. This is a huge mistake! One I hope, will be realized very soon. I trust this cut will hurt ALL ORGANIZATIONS, not just the ones listed in this article. I trust ones like Back Pack Buddies will also not receive any support from the City, even though it is their Mayor. HMMMMMM
Backpack Buddies has never applied to receive any of this grant money.
No, only in-kind donations which, oddly enough, were kept in the budget.
This is a very bad decision and a big slap in the face. The only thing that comes to mind is if Kelly Marks can benefit from this decision she will do what it takes. Orange City is very small why do we need a city event coordinator ? We have movie in the park and a few other small events. How is this a strain on anyone ? I’m trusting that backpack buddies is included of not receiving any support from Orange City. She’s known all over Orange City as the “ The Orange Scammer”
Funny. Haven’t heard that. But I did see her and her team help over 700 children at Christmas time. I watched her walk house to house in an elderly community and hand out food baskets for those whom didn’t know where their next meal would come from and I have seen her work tirelessly for a community that has ugly people fight her every step of the way. Why not just go by the old adage of if you don’t have something nice to say… you do your thing and she will proudly continue to do hers!
You should do a little research. Backpack Buddies has never applied for or received any of this grant money.
Correct. They do receive in-kind donations, though. I forget how much- wasn’t it like $2500 for the year?
If we base smart opinions from the mayor (who ran the most unorganized and atrocious Easter event last year) then I truly question her ability to lead anything tbh.