Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce is asking the City of Winfield to boost its annual contribution by $8,000 next year, bringing the city’s total to $20,000.
Chamber officials say the extra money is needed to combat rising health insurance costs and ease increasing financial dependence on its members.
Chamber director Lonnie Boyd and Chamber board chair Chris Hemphill made the request while presenting their 2008 budget during Thursday’s city commission work session held at City Hall.
“Sometimes I feel like we’re nickel-and-diming people to death,” said Boyd, referring to member support.
Besides buffering health insurance costs, the director wants extra funds for sponsoring programs such as the retailer’s Christmas promotion. Boyd said the Chamber, along with its sister agency Winfield Convention and Tourism, exists to help retailers by encouraging people to shop locally.
However, Boyd said, retailers are often asked to help fund the very events meant to assist them.
“We’re more and more just covering expenses and don’t have the extra for programs,” Hemphill said outside the meeting. “We’re trying to get away from having to ask our members for further contributions.”
Health insurance costs at the Chamber rose 93 percent over the last six to seven years, the pair told commissioners. In 2001 a single health plan cost $204. That same plan now costs $392. Single plans are paid for by the Chamber for full-time employees as part of their benefits package.
In a written report given to commissioners, Chamber officials said “The Chamber benefits the city in many ways, both directly and indirectly. Our proposal to the commission is based on careful analysis of dollar figures, human resources and overall positive impact on the community.”
The Chamber’s annual budget is about $150,000, said Boyd. Member dues and fundraisers supply the bulk of the budget.
