Council debates Sun Valley Marketing Alliance and economic development funding amid COVID uncertainty

Council members discussed funding requests from the Sun Valley Marketing Alliance and Sun Valley Economic Development during the June 16 budget review, with members expressing differing views about whether to reduce allocations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council Member Keith Saks said he believes the city "pays an inordinate amount compared to Ketchum" and questioned the relative benefit to Sun Valley. Council Member Jane Conard agreed she was concerned about the level of spending and said fewer visitors may come depending on how COVID unfolds. Council Member Brad DuFur argued the city needs to compete with other resort areas and opposed cuts, while Council President Michelle Griffith said she was "not in favor of a reduction" because "you don't cut off marketing when things are tight." The council did not reach a final consensus during the special meeting and left funding levels under further consideration as part of the FY2021 budget process.

The discussion also touched briefly on bridge art cleaning and concerns about executive salaries at Sun Valley Economic Development; Conard proposed reducing one request to $7,000 while DuFur favored funding the full request.