During a recent government meeting, officials addressed ongoing financial challenges, particularly concerning the funding of the Main Street program. The discussion revealed that both last year and this year, the organization faced cash flow issues, leading to a deferral of payments to staff, specifically mentioning a shortfall in compensation for an employee named Kenny.

The financial report indicated that in 2022, the organization ended the year with a deficit of $12,860.98. To cover this shortfall, funds were drawn from prior reserves, which had dwindled to approximately $6,886.55. The meeting highlighted the necessity of reconstructing financial records due to issues with the previous bookkeeping, which complicated the financial overview for both 2022 and 2023.

A significant point of contention was the funding allocated to the Main Street program. Initially launched with a $50,000 startup budget, the program has seen its funding decrease over the years, with the current budget reflecting only $15,000 from the general fund. However, officials proposed an additional grant of $35,000 from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) fund, effectively restoring the annual funding to the original $50,000 level.

This dual funding approach—$15,000 from the general fund and $35,000 from the CRA—has raised questions about the sustainability and self-sufficiency of the Main Street program, which was initially intended to operate without ongoing city financial support. The meeting underscored the importance of transparency in financial reporting and the need for strategic planning to ensure the program's viability moving forward.