Brevard strips funding from Brevard Cultural Alliance weeks after denying Pridefest grant money

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (FLV) – The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners voted against funding the Brevard Cultural Alliance for fiscal year 2023-2024 just two weeks after denying a $530,000 grant program, which included funding for Space Coast Pridefest.

During a board meeting Tuesday, Commissioners voted 3-2 against a Brevard Cultural Alliances Services contract, and directed staff to allocate the $212,000 into the tourist development tax marketing fund, which some commissioners aimed to use for lifeguard funding.

The Brevard Cultural Alliance requested $212,160 for fiscal year 2024. The motion to fund the alliance failed 2-3. Commissioners Tom Goodson and Jason Steele voted for the funding.

Many members of the public spoke out against the decision to cancel the cultural grants and asked the board to fund the Brevard Cultural Alliance.

During the meeting, Commissioner Jason Steele said none of the commissioners have “any prejudice against Space Coast Pride.”

“That was not the reason we took the vote that we took last week. There are wants and there are needs. A lot of people want cultural grants. I, for one, would like to see the cultural grants also, I’m not giving up on cultural grants. But what we need is lifeguards,” Steele said.

Steele said there were “400 people having to be pulled out of the ocean in the last seven months” and 14 deaths that “were broadcast all over the United States.”

Steele said tourism will be “absolutely ruined if we do not make our beaches safe for our tourists and our residents.”

During the meeting, the commission then voted 4-1 to direct staff to use $934,654 in tourist development tax revenue for county wide beach lifeguard services.

The motion also directed the Tourism Development Office to include the promotion of beach lifeguard services as part of the marketing plan for the next fiscal year. Additionally, the motion directed the county attorney and staff to prepare a resolution setting forth appropriate findings for the board’s consideration for the Sept. 5 meeting.

According to an analysis by the County Attorney, between December 2022 and May 2023, 10 people died by “ocean-related fatalities” in Brevard County. 

Most of the drownings involved rip currents, and most of the victims were visitors to the area. 

None of the drownings occurred at a beach protected by a lifeguard. Goodson was the only commissioner to object to the funding.

Chair Rita Pritchett said this was an “emotional decision” and said they are supposed to be “watching over everybody’s taxpayer dollars making sure they’re spent the best that they can be spent.”

Pritchett said the county doesn’t have “unlimited sources of funds.”

“Trying to even compare this with people dying on the beach, it’s a no-go with me. People’s lives will always trump over everything else we do,” Pritchett said.

It was previously reported that over half-a-million dollars were cut from grant funding by commissioners during an Aug. 8 meeting. This included $15,000 from the controversial Space Coast Pride event for 2024.

Now, the commission has cut funding for the Brevard Cultural Alliance, who supported the program. The county previously gave tourist development tax funds to organizations through the cultural grant program.

According to their website, the Brevard Cultural Alliance provides a “unified voice for the cultural sector of the Space Coast.”

The alliance website also said they “promote the cultural vitality of our community while providing high-quality programs / services, marketing and promotional efforts, and advocacy to help our entire cultural community thrive.”

Ahead of the vote, Commissioner John Tobia said he “doesn’t understand the BCA” and asked Chair of the BCA multiple questions to Executive Director Kathy Engerran.

“I honestly don’t understand the administrative function of the BCA. I don’t know how they bring – by their own metrics – anyone in,” Tobia said.

The contract stated, “the county wishes to contract with the Brevard Cultural Alliance for the purposes of encouraging, growing, and promoting tourism in Brevard County.”

“My question is, for the two cultural summits, you had 160 attendees who were from Brevard County. How does that promote tourism?” Tobia said.

“In a specific way, the impacts of those workshops, or the cultural summit, toward promotion of tourism is is minimal,” Engerran responded.

“What benefit does the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners get as far as tourism from the mid year – and your report?” Tobia asked.

“The report itself doesn’t,” Engerran responded.

“That’s perfect. Great.” Tobia said. “No one’s arguing that cultures a good thing, but we have to look at the black and white contract of this. How do I justify that we’re getting a return on our investment for tourism?”

Tobia said he doesn’t know if they are getting “$212,000 worth of value” for tourism.

Engerran said if they are funded for the coming year, they would “certainly” work with the Space Coast Office of Tourism to “improve our metrics.”

The Brevard Cultural Alliance website was visited 31,500 times since last October, according to Engerran.

The website picked up the location of those visiting the tourism site. While the website was reportedly is aimed at attracting those outside of Brevard County, the group said people from seven of the top ten cities were from those located in Brevard county

Tobia pointed out that on their website, two of the three links towards development office and as well as parks and recreation “just don’t even work.”

Tobia also brought up metrics in regards to their social media and newsletter analytics.

Pritchett said she thinks the alliance need to get “other types of sources of income” and pointed out the county makes up 40% of the alliance’s income.

Some members of the public spoke in favor of the Brevard Cultural Alliance during public comment.

“BCAs contract is transparent. It’s accountable. And it services the entire county in support of these arts organizations and using limited tax revenues to achieve our strategic objectives and tourism…” Mike LaFortune said.

Florida’s Voice reached out to BCA for comment and will update this story if a response is received.