The St. Johns Board of County Commissioners will hold an urgent workshop this week to determine how much money the county will provide to support St. Augustine’s annual Nights of Lights event.
County Commissioner Sarah Arnold called for the gathering last week, arguing that uncertainty surrounding the festival’s budget has sowed “confusion” among organizers less than three months from the celebration.
The County Board will hold the workshop Wednesday at 3 p.m. and it will be broadcast live.
The City of St. Augustine initially requested $1.2 million in additional funding to help address swelling crowds and infrastructure strains.
The St. Johns County Tourism Development Council voted to recommend $850,000 for expenditures on items like crowd control barricades, portable restrooms and additional parking.
“I think that there’s been some confusion with the TDC board and what these funds may or may not be able to be used for,” Arnold said at last week’s meeting. “And quite frankly I think the city just needs our help.”
Commissioner Clay Murphy declared that he would be hesitant to back the $850,000 figure without specifcs on exactly how the money would be spent.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and maybe go early, but I would be hesitant to support spending money when we don’t know where it’s going, and without the sheriff’s involvement in the mobility issue for Nights of Lights,” he said.
