Turnage seeks funds
Published 1:01 am Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Theater’s future may depend on financial support from city
Washington’s City Council heard two requests for city financial assistance Monday night – one request by the Turnage Theaters Foundation and the other by the Washington Harbor District Alliance.
Charles Smith, president of the foundation’s board of directors, and Bob Schultz, the foundation’s treasurer, made the foundation’s case for funding from the city to the council. Although they didn’t ask for a specific amount of funding, they did ask for the city to continue its financial support of the foundation and for city assistance with the Turnage Theater’s utilities bill.
The city has been providing $100,000 a year for five years to the foundation, but that commitment ends this fiscal year, according to Matt Rauschenbach, the city’s assistant manager and chief financial officer.
Schultz said the foundation is trying to pay off a $3 million mortgage.
“We still have a considerable piece left,” he said.
Councilman Doug Mercer asked how much was left to pay on the mortgage. Schultz said that amount is $970,000.
Smith called the Turnage Theater a “vibrant theater” that enhances the city. If the theater closed its doors, that would be a blow to Washington and surrounding areas, he said. He said the theater has a role to play in enhancing Washington’s future.
“But right now, we have something that is pretty rare, and almost unique, in this part of our state,” Smith said. “And that’s a theater that’s been beautifully restored and has a wonderful and proud history.”
Schultz minced no words in describing the foundation’s finances.
“Ever since the theater opened its doors, it’s been struggling financially,” he said.
During his explanation of the foundation’s financial picture, Schultz said the “future of the Turnage remains in question.”
Schultz said the foundation is seeking grants from other foundations and sources that may have funding available for entities such as the Turnage Theater. As for the $100,000 the city provided in each of the past four fiscal years and the current fiscal year, the foundation “doesn’t expect that,” Schultz said.
Schultz said the foundation’s expenses associated with running the theater are more than its revenues. The foundation is working to address a pressing “deficiency” of about $78,000, he said. As part of that effort, the foundation has launched a second fundraising campaign, he said.
“To date, we’re raised about $50,000 of that $78,000, principally from our patrons and a couple of corporate sponsors,” Schultz said.
The foundation would be grateful for any help the city could provide, Smith said. Smith said “helping with utilities would be amazingly helpful,” adding that the city of Wilson provides such assistance for that city’s restored downtown theater.
The council made no commitment to the foundation, other than to say its request will be discussed during the council’s upcoming work sessions on the proposed 2011-2012 budget for the city.
For more coverage of the council’s meeting, including the WHDA request for city dollars, see a future edition of the Washington Daily News.