With the annual Stonewall Pride Parade & Street Festival just a month away, the city is signing on as the title sponsor, giving $50,000 to the party.
Commissioners discussed the request at the end of their May 13 meeting. This is the second year in a row that the city has stepped in to make sure the festival goes on.
There was some doubt that the commission would be able to pony up the cash. Wilton Manors is cash-strapped, despite raising property taxes 10% this year and a similar hike expected next year.
The general sentiment was that Stonewall, along with the Wicked Manors street party on Halloween, is one of two key signature events for the city and is an important revenue source for businesses, especially for those along Wilton Drive.
Vice Mayor Chris Caputo was skeptical of giving the money, but noted that the city is putting extra demands on the festival and should help cover the costs.
The demand in question is the requirement to have metal detectors at all entrances.
That will cost about $30,000, which is a big lift for a relatively small organization. This is on top of last year’s requirement of cashless entry.
The parade and festival is set for June 14.
