Let the Steel Days (Celebration) Begin

Well, there is no cannon blast and a sunrise flag ceremony (as in decades past), but American Fork (Ut) Steel Days 2008 starts tonight in earnest with the official opening and then a performance at the AFHS by the American Fork Symphony at 7p sans the American Fork Amphitheater at Quail Hollow (because of threatening weather). Please check out some of the activities. Go to www.afsteeldays.com. (As well as a map for locations). Look for the following to be big hits for 2008 Steel Days:

• Picnic in the Park at Art Dye Park (Thurs eve): This seems to get bigger and better each year (fourth yr now). The outdoor movie is "Horton Hears a Who" a cute movie thats FREE as are most of the events.
• Battle of the Bands and Skate Tournament (Fri evening): Heart pounding tunes from garage and other bands are sure to be good as well as the twists and turns at the skate park.
• The Big Show and Fireworks (Sat eve), The Return (Beatles impersonators), Eclipse and the Super Crescent Band, which is the best. And the fireworks. . . no better in the state (including the "Arena of Heat") to the south of us.

Hope to see you at some of the events. If you see a volunteer in a white Tee Shirt, express your appreciation. They put in hours and hours in our behalf and have been very responsible fiscally in putting together a great celebration for friends, neighbors and families. In fact this committee begins work for the following year as the last of the fireworks wink at the crowd. Click on the Sponsor link and be a patron of those establishments found on the list who have given so graciously as to give our city budget some help.

Comments

[Shirl LeBaron]

Thank you for your inquiry. To be transparent as possible, this year there was a transfer of $68,000.04 from the General Fund. Together with other sources including sponsorships; we have a total of 137,006.66 in revenue (again revenue and expenditures are still coming in) and we cross over into 2 fiscal years. Expenditures at present is $145,608.13. So total city subsidy of Steel Days presently is $77,401.51. This is down from approx 80,000 in yrs before. What is not factored in is sales tax generated from patrons; resident and nonresident alike who stay and spend money in our community as well as the good will generated by families, friends and neighbors as we celebrate our traditions and heritage. As for property tax increases. we are sensitive to the needs of our citizens. Likewise, to stay above the curve of inflation and maintaining quality essential city services, we must increase at some level. We have pared down needs significantly to the present 14% increase which I feel is reasonable.

I wonder how much the city spent to host Steel Days - would you ever disclose that here? Please vote NO to property tax increase in the middle of an economic down-turn.