By: Diane Benjamin
The financial statement issued by Central Illinois Arena Management (CIAM) for 5/1/2015 – 7/31/2015 has never made it to the City website. Your can view it here: 1st Quarter 2016 Coliseum Fund P & L I had to request it by FOIA.
There are MANY problems with the report, but I will name just a few. Click the images below to enlarge (I’m trying to save space).
1* – Did they forget to collect the Amusement Tax-page 1 shows they collected ZERO. On page 2 they took Amusement Tax as an expense:
Looks funny at only $726.41 because the tax is 4%. That means the tax was charged on only $18,160.25. Auditing the Amusement Tax City?
2* – Total Revenue: $887,760.15 (Page 1) * 4% Management Fee = $35,510.40. CIAM is up to their old tricks again of paying themselves a management fee on items that aren’t income! See page 2:
They aren’t entitled to pay themselves on income that isn’t theirs. Merchandise Taxable Sales isn’t theirs. The acts pay them a commission to sell merchandise, it’s listed on page 1. A lot of the income listed under “Event” is passed through to the acts and reimbursed. The DIFFERENCE between the charge and expense is income, not the TOTAL.
I realize I’m getting all CPA here, but one more:
3* Club Membership income is listed at $787.50 for the entire Quarter. Club Memberships for the same quarter last year were: $11,700! http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7358 Page 6. Who is in charge of selling Club Memberships? John Butler’s sister, Julia Cresci: http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/events-and-tickets/club-membership
Go back farther to 2012. Club Memberships for the same quarter were: $21,054.80. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6553 Page 7.
John Butler runs the whole show. John, are all your employees allowed to under-perform and still keep their jobs?
Maybe the Coliseum is failing and nobody is willing to admit it.
Funny how budget cutting discussions never include the Coliseum! Spending money on new equipment and covering losses is always considered a NEED. Brilliant.
Those revenue numbers are absolutely pathetic! This management crew should unquestionably be FIRED immediately! City manager Hales and council continue to make absolute fools of themselves for allowing this to continue. – BTW why is the Sales Tax section reading zero?
At least they didn’t pay themselves a commission on sales tax!
Maybe Butler’s sister Julia needed a 3 month sabbatical…paid for and approved by her brother, I mean boss….and funded by the taxpayers. Nice work
This stuff makes my head “explode.” They have a “restaurant” which is supposed to generate revenue but is not in use for some reason. Aldermen Schmidt asked about that when Butler gave his “annual” report at the July 20th Council Meeting. Hales is up for his job review (and raise) and CIAM’s contract is in negotiation…we are doomed!! The tax dollars will continue to be flushed down the toilet.
Good thing I filed a lawsuit!
Tari wants a mental health facility the Coliseum would be a perfect place to put them.Seeing the Coliseum is not generating money it might as well be converted.