The city of Kimmswick will ask voters April 7 to approve Proposition L, which, if approved, would allow the city to raise the fee it charges to rent booth space at festivals from $15 up to $30.
A simple majority vote is required.
Kimmswick is unusual because most of its municipal revenue comes from the money it makes at festivals, primarily the Apple Butter and Strawberry festivals.
The city typically rents out 600 spaces at the annual Apple Butter Festival, so at $15 a space, that generates about $9,000 in revenue for the city, said Ward 1 Alderwoman Connie Schmitt, the festival chairwoman.
She also said the city typically rents out 200 to 250 spaces at its Strawberry Festival, so that’s another $3,000 to $3,750 in revenue for the city.
If Prop L is approved, Kimmswick officials don’t plan to immediately raise booth rental fees to $30, but instead increases would be phased in over a number of years, as needed, Schmitt said.
She said the additional revenue from increased fees would be used to covers costs associated with the festivals, like shuttle buses, portable toilets and trash pickup.
St. Louis County attorney Ed Sluys, who represents the city of Kimmswick, said the city is putting the issue in front of voters as a precaution.
“We want to be cautious because it’s raising revenue for the city and because some residents rent spaces to vendors during the festivals,” he said. “We wanted to make sure residents got their say.”
When Kimmswick residents rent out space on their own property to vendors at the festivals, the city still gets $15 from that, Schmitt said.
She said the city needs to raise the booth rental fee to keep up with costs associated with holding the festivals.
“It will help us with paying all the expenses,” she said.
Kimmswick city clerk Tammy Benack said those expenses have been rising, so the increase in the booth rental fee is needed.