Suncoasters say they work so hard as a matter of civic pride, to boost the city's image. It's a pricey enterprise. The single largest source of revenue comes from the Suncoasters. All but 5 percent is used to underwrite the festival. The bulk of the income comes from corporate sponsorships, both cash and in-kind.
Some money is generated from concessions, ticket sales and registrations.
But it limits the potential for revenue. The cash is a separate line item in the general budget, not included in the co-sponsorship budget. Even so, it is not enough, say Suncoasters, maintaining it is unique in its venerable history. The city needs to be more involved. I think the citizens like it.