City staff and council members reviewed the budget for Highland's annual Fling event and identified shortfalls and organizational problems that they said should be fixed before next year.

Why it matters: The Fling is a community-funded set of events that relies on sponsorships, registration fees and city support. The council's review highlighted where sponsorship expectations, registration revenues and printing costs did not match residents' expectations or prior practice.

Jay (city staff) reported Fling revenues of $35,716 and event expenses of $60,194, leaving a deficit of $24,478. The council had previously approved a $20,000 contribution, leaving an apparent net shortfall of $4,478. Staff said some program revenues (for example, disc-golf and pickleball registrations) were retained by volunteer chairs under ad hoc arrangements rather than being counted centrally; council members said that reduced the Fling's apparent revenue.

Council members criticized the timing and quality of the mailed Fling materials. One councilmember said printing and emergency outreach cost about $4,700 for flyers that the council expected would have been printed in-house or handled differently. Several councilmembers and staff said sponsors were expecting a multi-page booklet that did not appear; staff said late decisions and turnover in event staffing contributed.

Council discussion covered several themes:
- Accountability for event revenues: Staff reported $14,600 in sponsor revenues; council asked for line-item accounting and asked staff to track registrations and sponsorship benefits centrally going forward.
- Volunteer and staffing stability: Councilmembers said they had used multiple part-time events coordinators in recent years and urged a plan to reduce turnover. One councilmember suggested the city consider a full-time events coordinator or a more stable staffing model; others said they wanted a cost-benefit analysis before adding a full-time position.
- Program continuity: Garden tours, the medallion hunt and other small events were missed or scaled back this year; councilmembers recommended rebuilding a standing Fling committee and restoring favored activities.

Council members praised elements of the event (parade turnout, concert attendance and fireworks) but said advertising, sponsor fulfillment and a printed program should be improved. Staff and council agreed to produce a clearer post-event accounting, review sponsor fulfilment (including offering booth space at future events when appropriate), and develop a plan for event staffing and contingency funds.