The city of Covington will take $20,000 from its general fund in the 2015-16 fiscal year budget and help fund the Christmas lights on the Square this year.
It is the third and final year of a contract the city began in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce. In the first year, Covington and Main Street split the total cost of $40,000, then in 2014, the Main Street program paid the entirety of the $40,000 Christmas light project.
This year the Main Street program, now under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce didn’t have the funds for the $40,000. Chamber president Ralph Staffins requested that the city cut the lights program to accommodate the $20,000 budget, or put up the additional $20,000 itself.
“They asked the city because it is such a big event and because we have supported this,” Covington City Manager Leigh Anne Knight said.
The Covington City Council reached a consensus during its city council meeting Monday to allot the $20,000 in the 2015-16 fiscal year into its budget, currently being worked on. Covington Mayor Ronnie Johnston said the council will then look at possibilities for the new contract beginning in 2016.
“The directive from this council to Main Street is that we’re going to continue to move forward with having a great Christmas celebration event.”
