McHenry County Blog

When the Gay Games’ spokeswoman was in Crystal Lake for the meeting during which the Crystal Lake Park Board capitulated to legal threats, I asked how much was taxpayer subsidy was expected from Springfield.

The answer given was $450,000.

I just received a copy of a subsidy agreement from the administration of Rod Blagojevich, which says Chicago Games, Inc.—the official name of the Gay Games—will receive $296,616 out of the Fiscal Year 2006 budget. (That’s the budget year that ends June 30, 2006.)

That's 66% of what was expected.

The money is for presumably non-controversial items:

Administration - $45,000
Purchase of Services - $3,000
Marketing/Promotion - $18,000
Equipment/Facility Rental - $59,000
Cash Match-Equip/Facility Rent - $171,616

There must have been something revealing in the first application, because it was withdrawn and re-submitted.

Of course, more could come from next year’s budget. The FY07 budget year starts two weeks before the Gay Games are being held.

Tomorrow - Rowing event scheduled on the Chicago River...on Monday, July 17th.