Community members packed the courtroom Thursday evening for the first reading of the 2023-24 Daviess County Fiscal Court budget. Most of the attendees were there to show their opposition to Fiscal Court’s proposal of reducing the County’s funding of the RiverPark Center from $12,500 to $0.
During a discussion of the proposed budget last month, Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen recommended giving no money to the RPC. He said while the RPC’s work does fill hotels, he was told by Executive Director Rich Jorn that the organization does not turn a profit. Castlen said Jorn told him that led to the creation of the GhostLight Lounge, but there is still no profit with the opening of that venue.
“They admitted that they’re losing money … They have created something that is as divisive as it has been in our community,” Castlen said, referencing the opposition to the drag shows held at the GhostLight Lounge. “They readily admit that they’re losing money and yet they keep doing it. It’s almost as though they’re saying we don’t need your money.”
Commissioners Larry Conder and Janie Marksberry supported the proposal, while Commissioner Chris Castlen didn’t think they should totally eliminate funding.
The majority of those in attendance Thursday thought the County should continue providing the funds to the Riverpark Center. While the courtroom was full, only one person spoke on behalf of those there to oppose Fiscal Court’s proposal.
Jordan Blake Key, advocate for diversity at the RiverPark Center, stated that drag performance is an art form that is familiar to everyone and by its nature not divisive. He also said the LGBTQ+ community does not intend to be divisive.
“We do not believe that our existence should be divisive, that our art should be divisive, or be undervalued by you, the Fiscal Court,” he said.
He said by defunding the RPC, Fiscal Court would be devaluing spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
“By defunding the RiverPark Center due to its LGBTQ+ programming, due to its ‘divisiveness’ or its seemingly ‘anti-Christian,’ you — the Daviess County Fiscal Court — are devaluing spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals, devaluing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,” Key said. “It’s not just an organization that will bear that weight, it is all of us.”
Key said while some people do not share the same values as the LGBTQ+ community, they are tax paying citizens like everyone else, saying it is the duty of the Fiscal Court to know and represent the values of all residents.
Key further noted that the programming at the RiverPark Center is not limited to drag performances and said it has been a pillar in providing diverse programming.
“They have been the backbone of cultural expression, the springboard of arts careers, and cornerstones of our County’s economic growth,” he said.
Aaron Thomas did not speak specifically against drag shows but supported defunding the RiverPark Center. He spoke general about the arts.
“The arts are true, beautiful and good. Not just intrinsically, not just because of themselves, but because they were created by a god. They’re not just part of our imagination and something I came up with or anyone came up with,” he said.
Castlen said that in his opinion, the budget is a good one.
“This is the first budget for this Fiscal Court and I think it’s a good budget. The Commissioners and I have worked many long hours to create this budget and I appreciate everyone’s effort and consideration. I can say with certainty that no member of this Fiscal Court is totally happy with every item on this budget,” Castlen said.
Because it was only the first reading of the budget, no action was taken.
