Durango groups compromise on funding

by Chuck Slothower
Herald Staff Writer

Article Last Updated; Thursday, November 19, 2009 12:46AM

The Durango Business Improvement District is lobbying for a compromise in its funding from the Durango Area Tourism Office.

BID this year is receiving $25,000 from DATO to market special events to potential visitors. DATO, which has sustained its own funding cut, initially proposed to cut the funding to $10,000 in 2010.

After some resistance from BID, DATO increased its proposal to $17,500.

Susan Lander, a DATO board member, said the tourism group has fixed costs it can't cut, including salary and rent.

"You have to look at things you can cut," she said - like BID's funding.

Lander said BID and DATO continue to work well together despite the funding disagreement.

"This is a really good collaborative relationship," Lander said. "There has just been a little misunderstanding."

BID and DATO both market Durango to out-of-town visitors, but BID typically focuses on marketing specific events.

BID's 2010 budget, passed unanimously by the group's board Wednesday, includes the $17,500 it expects to receive from DATO.

"Everyone's taking budget cuts, and I think we understand that," said Jasper Welch, BID coordinator.

Bob Kunkel, downtown special events and business coordinator, said it appears the $17,500 figure will be approved. "Everybody's accepting the $17,500, and they're moving forward on the same page."

The groups' budgets face approval by the City Council in December.

chuck@durangoherald.com'>chuck@durangoherald.com