General fund money is spent on social services, libraries and parks and recreation. So county officials pledged that if the donations don’t come through, they will not dip into the general fund to make up the difference. $6 million when we could be helping people in so many other ways? I just have a problem with the amount of money.” … But half-a-million dollars maybe, maybe $1 million. I understand it’s important to put money into art. For that money, the county “could be doing a lot more than putting money into lights.

County officials said they hope to raise the remaining $4 million from donations by private businesses and cities - with incentives such as plaques or invitations to the ribbon cutting.Ĭommissioner Mark Bogen raised concern about the cost. “I got a problem with this, and my problem is we’re spending $6 million on lights,” he said. To cover the bill, the county has set aside $2 million, which includes $1.5 million raised from the Tourist Development Tax, the “ bed tax” from hotel stays by tourists.

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