The Brown County commissioners are moving money from existing county funds to help cover costs for the Brown County Music Center.
The center, which opened last year and was already turning a profit, was forced to postpone shows amid social distancing requirements and closures of non-essential businesses.
"There are times when money is loaned from one fund to another that not an uncommon practice," Dax Norton, the municipal consultant for the town of Nashville says. "Obviously the music center is one of the most important facilities in the county and being the draw that’s a good use of time and funds to prop them up in this moment."
Diana Biddle is one of the commissioners and says the move allows for up to four months of mortgage payments that must be repaid by December 2020.
“It in no way creates a tax burden on the local taxpayers which is why we chose to do it this way,” she says.
Biddle says the plan gives the county and center time to figure out next steps. She says situations like these are constantly changing. Indiana code allows for these types of transfers.
“It’s a real juggling game," Biddle says. "If you’re not in this office every day keeping those plates spinning in the air it’s kind of hard to comprehend and appreciate the timing and the intricacies of what all is involved in making those things happen.”
But some Brown County residents are skeptical of the plan.
“I would warn taxpayers any time that there’s a venue like this, that you really need to stay up on your legislators and elected officials so that they don’t bury you in debt," Sheri Mitchell says. She's frustrated by what she believes is a lack of transparency.
Yet, Mitchell, like others, say they hope the center can re-open soon. Biddle insists the plan is temporary, and that nearly all postponed shows have been rescheduled.
Rescheduling events helps the center from losing revenue long term, but has an impact for concert goers. Live Nation, a national ticket broker and promoter that works with the center, has been hesitant to offer refunds to ticket holders.
Pending legal action could change that, but a resolution could be months away.
Local officials say they are applying for low interest forgivable loan programs and talking about creating grants through existing funds to help Brown County’s small businesses during the pandemic.
The Brown County Music Center was not available for comment.
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