Our "Spooky Fun Fair" at Halloween didn't see much decline, whereas giftwrap did; the FFCC-diva might be right. If it's still cheap entertainment compared to, say, the movies, people might still come. Is your Fun Fair a net income or loss in your original budget? Ours is income, so canceling it would be a bad idea. Also, it's a big tradition and school-community-building even that all the kids look forward to each year.
Do you do any pre-sales of tickets? Can you say, we will only rent the big moon bounce if we get $X in pre-sales by the date the rental deposit is due? Then it's up to the FF committee to promote the sales.
Herein lies the problem...the Finance Committee proposed cuts to our big Fun Fair, or suggested canceling it and the Fun Fair Committee Chair-diva rounded up her possee to battle against the cuts. There is no rationale behind this other that this move would take away from this woman's "self-glorification". We can't afford to take a loss on this event, but these people think the ecomony won't affect attendance and money spent at the Fun Fair. How do you deal with people who won't think logically?
What you need is some end-of-year event that everyone loves that you have authority to cancel ... OK, folks, if you don't cut something, that event goes ...
We had a school in town cancel all field trips and enrichment programs for the last 3 months of the academic year when they ran out of money. I think that possibility should be enough motivation to get your 2/3.
Did the other 1/3 think that money would come in later? Or that something different should be cut? If the former, then you need to craft the revised budget so that it's clear in what order things will be restored if the money comes in originally planned (or some big donor chips in). If they want something else cut, then you have to look at what would get cut when the funding runs out, and then get the people who don't want to see that happen to help motivate the vote to cut other things.
I would like some advice on this situation. Our fundraising has brought in 20% less than expected due to the bad economy. The Finance Committee is attempting to make cuts to our budget to remain financially responsible and allow for a little start up money for the next school year, assuming that the 20% decrease will be across the board with any fundraising for the reaminder of the school year. The proposed budget cuts were put up for a vote but did not pass with the 2/3 majority needed. A new proposal is being presented soon, but I have the feeling that the vote will go the same way because some of the board members are putting personalities before the principles of the group. We have no by-laws directing us on what to do next. As PTO President, what can I do about the deadlock? Do I have special "powers" to demand the budget cuts are accepted? We need to rectify this before we run out of money. Help!!!
