OVG says Fort Idaho Center returned to breakeven and seeks Civic Center capital funding from Auditorium District
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Summary
OVG representatives told council the Ford Idaho Center and Nampa Civic Center reduced deficits, are building fund balances and still require capital work; they flagged the Tax Commission delay to Auditorium District collections and asked council to consider auditorium‑district funding and deferred‑maintenance planning.
An OVG representative identified as Andrew briefed the City Council on April 16 about operations at the Fort Idaho Center (Ford Idaho Center) and the Nampa Civic Center, reporting fiscal improvement at both venues and highlighting capital needs that could be addressed with Auditorium District funds.
The update matters because the venues generate tourism, hotel stays and local economic activity; OVG presented fund balances, recent operational gains and a capital needs list that would affect future bookings, customer experience and long‑term competitiveness.
Andrew said the Fort Idaho Center has moved from a multi‑million dollar operating deficit to consistent year‑to‑year profitability and that the venue is “pacing for the fourth best fiscal year.” He said the Fort Idaho Center fund balance was about $5,500,000 as of last month and flagged a full summer season with 27 booked summer concerts and a reopened RV park expansion. He noted the venues prevented roughly $9,000,000 in ticketing fraud over the last two years and reported more than $1,000,000 in corporate partnership revenue last year; CBH Homes bought naming rights to an entry gate.
At the Nampa Civic Center, Andrew said the organization completed a phase 1 LED upgrade and is pursuing phase 2 via an RFP. The Civic Center’s fund balance is approaching $800,000. Capital needs listed for FY26 include theater seats, sound system, window treatments and carpet; Andrew said theater seats and a working sound system are high priorities for customer experience and ADA/fire‑lane compliance work is also needed. Insurance and utility costs at the Civic Center have risen; Andrew told council insurance and utilities have increased by about $60,000 over the last two years.
Council members raised deferred‑maintenance and landscaping questions. Cody Swander of Nampa Parks and Recreation said city maintenance spending for the Idaho Center is just over $200,000 per year; private contractor estimates the cost could be higher (Cody cited prior high‑level estimates in the $400,000–$450,000 range). Andrew confirmed a $100,000 annual parking‑lot rotation that addresses different lot zones on a five‑year cycle and said last year’s $100,000 appropriation is being used for a specific lot zone; he agreed to provide a prioritized deferred‑maintenance list and values to the council by e mail.
Andrew discussed the Auditorium District funding mechanism but said the Idaho State Tax Commission recently told the Auditorium District board it cannot begin collections until April 2026, delaying expected revenue. The board is exploring ways to stand up collections earlier and will return to council with more information when available.
Andrew proposed a flat FY26 operating budget for both venues (zero operating deficit) and noted a set of cost‑management actions: bringing janitorial in‑house at the Civic Center, reducing travel/training and aligning event revenue projections with actuals. He also noted threats including local competition (several new venues opened in the Treasure Valley since 2018) and ongoing increases in infrastructure, insurance, labor and utility costs.
Council asked whether OVG should consider contracting landscaping rather than using city Parks and Rec; Cody and Andrew said equipment cost is the primary barrier to in‑house landscaping and private vendors’ high quotes influenced prior analyses.
The presentation closed with an offer to bring a prioritized capital list, deferred‑maintenance estimates and follow‑up on auditorium‑district timing to a future council meeting.
