For the first time in the history of Savannah’s Biggest Party, the city is counting up just how much taxpayers shell out to provide security and other services for Saint Patrick’s Day festivities.
Until this year, nobody really knew just how many people partied on River Street for the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Festival. We heard estimates of 100 thousand, 200 thousand and more but until the city installed turnstiles this year no one knew for sure.
“From Friday to the end of Saturday,” City Spokesman Bret Bell explains, “there were about 80 thousand people who went down to River Street.” Bell says the biggest crowds were on Friday night but they say there were never more than 20 thousand on the street at any one time.
This year the city is measuring Saint Patrick’s Day festivities from a financial standpoint as well. Assistant City Manager Chris Morrill is working on a cost/benefit analysis to see just how much servicing the big party and parade costs taxpayers.
“This year we have a special accounting code for St. Patrick’s.” Morrill says all parade and festival expenses, from all departments will be combined. “We can get, I think, for the first time a really accurate picture of what our real costs are.” Once all the receipts for police officer overtime, barricades and port-a-potties are in the city will know the penny just how much green goes into the event.
While leaders say it’s important to quantify the costs, they don’t expect the price tag to be cut in future years. “I think with public safety our number one priority as a municipality.” Morrill explains, “Most of these are public safety costs. So, I can't imagine us spending less. It’s public safety and we're going to make sure people are safe.”
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