There are limits when it comes to the City of Vernon funding O’Keefe Ranch. Council has set aside $184,500 in the provisional 2010 budget for the historic site although the ranch’s board had requested $214,378. “Council felt the ranch should be generating more funds on its own and become more self-sufficient,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe, who opposed the motion and wanted another year of stable funding. “It’s been neglected for so long and there’s so much to catch up with. Last year, there were all of the fires and that impacted the ranch’s ability to make a profit.” Coun. Shawn Lee doesn’t believe council’s decision indicates a lack of commitment to the city-owned site. “Museums, art galleries and those kind of things wind up with a level of community support,” he said. “But we’re searching for what that level can be. We picked a figure and we’ll see how it goes.”
With its funding request trimmed, O’Keefe’s board expects tough decisions will have to be made. “It will cause us to take some things out of the budget,” said president Rod Drennan. “It might affect the animal displays and seasonal staff such as students for interpreters.” Drennan also says some of the shortfall will have to be made up through fundraising. However, Drennan believes the city is still committed to the ranch and points to major capital improvements last year. “They do support us or it wouldn’t be $184,500. It would be some other number,” he said. ‘That’s higher than historically has occurred over the years.”
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