Carnival Center Executives Project 1000 Deficit For Second Year

By Dan Dolan
Carnival Center for the Performing Arts executives handed the county a $27.2 million preliminary annual operating budget this week that projects the Biscayne Boulevard facility will lose only $1,000 next year.

But county budget director Jennifer Glazer-Moon and Assistant County Manager Alex Muñoz quickly backed away from the numbers, which they say must be vetted by county analysts.

"The budget submission has not been verified nor has any decision concerning the allocation of particular revenue," Ms. Moon said. "We’ll have a better idea of the figures when the county manager’s proposed budget comes out on June 1."

Based on the arts center’s projections, the facility will generate $27.2 million in revenue during the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. That’s a $5.2 million hike from the current budget. Part of that money would be used to fill five new jobs.

Losses are projected at $1,000, a figure at odds with the center’s earlier estimates for operating deficits, which have exceeded $100,000. In part, the $1,000 shortfall is based on allocations from the county’s hotel, food and beverage taxes rising to $10.1 million next year from the current $3.7 million. If the county doesn’t kick in that money next year, the projected deficit will rise.

For the current year, arts center budget forecasters predicted a $550,000 shortfall. The center already has posted a $610,000 loss during its first few months of operation. Mr. Muñoz has been given the job of cutting first-year losses and sorting out the center’s game plan for its second year. Advertisement