What a deal—Summer Butte Bucks could be available June 15

Popular winter program to see summer sun

Who doesn’t like a 20 percent discount? That’s what a summer Butte Bucks program would give local shoppers.

At the urging of Crested Butte councilperson Skip Berkshire, the town is considering teaming up with the local Chamber of Commerce and the town of Mt. Crested Butte and offering a summer Butte Bucks program.
Crested Butte would fund $7,500, with the town of Mt. Crested Butte throwing in $2,500 as well. The idea is to offer “Butte Bucks” through the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce.
As in a similar winter offering, people could purchase $100 worth of the bucks for $80. The bucks then must be spent at participating local businesses.
The Crested Butte Town Council discussed the program during their May 18 meeting.
“It’s a very successful program in December,” said Berkshire. “It sells out quickly.”
Chamber executive director Richard Bond thought it was a great idea. “It is a great opportunity for local economic stimulus,” he said. “It will also create good will between the town and the local businesses.”
Berkshire suggested the town fund $10,000 worth of the bucks that he said would generate $50,000 in local business. He also pointed out the town would recoup $1,500 in sales tax.
Town manager Susan Parker said she and town finance director Lois Rozman would suggest if the council gives the okay, the money should come out of the Crested Butte “Venture Fund,” which is designed for economic development.
Bernholtz said he wasn’t comfortable draining the entire $10,000 in the venture fund for one project. But he was less comfortable dipping into the town reserves. “Reserves are meant to keep the town services running,” he said. “I’m not sure this is the right way to spend reserves.”
Berkshire disagreed. “Reserves are meant for unforeseen circumstances and that’s what we have at the moment,” he said. “This is good for the business community and I bet people end up spending more than just the Butte Bucks, so you get a bonus.”
The council was generally in favor of pursuing the program and they will discuss more details at the June 1 meeting.
In the meantime, Bond approached the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council about participating in the program.
 “Basically, we print our own money,” is how Bond started his explanation of the Butte Bucks program to the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council. Bond said the Chamber was asking the town of Mt. Crested Butte to pitch in $2,500 to the Butte Bucks program.
The Butte Bucks would have the logos of both towns printed on them.
“Any cash left over because of un-redeemed Butte Bucks would be returned to the town,” he said.
Last winter $20,000 worth of Butte Bucks were printed. Bond said they sold out in three days.
Bond said the summer Butte Bucks program would be open to all businesses for a $30 fee. There would be no cost difference between Chamber members and non-members. Last year non-members had to pay double. Bond said the fee covers the cost of printing, marketing and selling the butte bucks.
Bond said he was working on a potential partnership with CB Vacations to include Butte Bucks as part of vacation packages this summer.
Mayor William Buck said, “I know what everybody’s thinking. Joe, where do we get $2,500?”
“Well, we could print it,” town manager Joe Fitzpatrick quipped.
Council member Dave Clayton said after the Chamber meeting earlier that morning he began wondering if Butte Bucks could be considered “marketing” through the town’s admissions tax fund program. Admissions tax funds are restricted to marketing and transportation uses. Clayton said the Chamber had made a previous request for $5,000 in admissions tax funds that the town authorized last fall, but the Chamber never took the grant and the money was still available.
Fitzpatrick said the Chamber needed to make an official request for admissions tax funds so the town’s admissions tax committee could review it. “The committee can determine whether or not they believe this is a marketing effort,” Fitzpatrick said.
Buck said, “It’s got marketing written all over it.”
Council member Gary Keiser said, “I think it’s a creative program.”
Bond is hoping to get the summer promotion online by June 15. The Butte Bucks will be redeemable at the participating businesses until Labor Day.