Downtown Bryan Association Asks City Council for More Money

The Downtown Bryan Association (DBA) has asked the city council for the money to nearly double the pay of its executive director, add two fulltime employees, and add four paid interns.

Association President Ben Hardeman proposes they take over management of the Palace Theater and the Texas Reds Festival.

Hardeman says there’s been a significant growth in the membership, programs, activities, and leadership in the downtown community.

That’s among the reasons to increase the executive director’s pay from $34,000 to $65,000 a year and spend a combined $92,000 to cover a new program manager, a new operations manager, and four interns from A&M.

The city currently contributes $55,000 dollars. The DBA wants another $40,000 to cover personnel expenses through the end of September. City staff say the money will come from the general fund and the hotel occupancy tax.

The DBA has also asked the city to triple what it currently gives in the next fiscal year, to $165,000.

The association would also keep all revenue generated from the Palace, while the city would keep revenue generated from the Reds Festival.

Click HERE to read the background information presented to the Bryan City Council.

More News