High Point Market Authority seeks $9.18 million operating budget, cites tech and staffing priorities

Mayor Cyril Jefferson opened the special High Point City Council meeting and introduced a presentation from the High Point Market Authority on its fiscal year 2026–2027 budget. Tammy Covington, speaking for the Authority, said next year’s proposed operating budget is $9,175,472 and described it as largely consistent with recent years.

Covington said the Authority’s primary goals remain cultivating new buyers, retaining existing buyers and delivering a frictionless guest experience. "Our number one job here is to cultivate new buyers to come to this market," she said, citing partnerships with the National Kitchen & Bath Association and Design Edge outreach to attract designers and other buyers in the region.

The Authority reported a revenue mix of roughly 20% local dollars, just under 50% state funding and about 31% industry revenues. On the expense side, Covington said administration costs will rise because the Authority is investing in IT—including registration equipment and backend database work—while transportation costs reflect higher fuel and vehicle operation expenses. She told the council registration-related equipment and staffing are expected to show the largest expense increase.

Covington also highlighted the Market’s local workforce. "We hire about 250 temporary staff people," she said, and added the Market has a 92% retention rate among that temporary workforce, which she described as an important local economic benefit. The presentation included local media coverage and a restaurant owner’s comment that business during Furniture Market week can be multiple times normal, illustrating the event’s economic effect on downtown businesses.

On international attendance, Market staff member Tim said internationals rebounded after COVID beginning in 2022 but that recent global trade uncertainty and tariffs have reduced some international participation; he said April’s market showed gains compared with the October decline but that international attendance had not fully returned to pre-COVID levels.

Covington said the Authority will move its offices to 115 South Hamilton Street (third floor) to consolidate guest services and better execute the Authority’s brand and operations. She also described a district partnership with the city that includes a roughly $9 million state-funded package for street and utility work and a 'tidy team' the Authority hired to reduce the city's pre-market workload.

The council asked questions about fuel price impacts and international visitation; Covington said the Authority has identified savings elsewhere and maintains approximately a $2 million buffer to absorb increased transportation costs. After questions and brief discussion the Mayor thanked the presenters.

The City Council then proceeded to a separate agenda item and voted to enter a closed session to discuss personnel; no further budget actions or votes were recorded in the public meeting.