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The future of a popular outdoor concert series in Steilacoom is uncertain after the town announced it won鈥檛 be funding the program this year.

Steilacoom has sponsored the summertime concert series for 37 years.

, it鈥檚 now pulling the plug on the series, due to budget cuts. But private donations might be able to save it.

Last year the town sponsored nine concerts in Pioneer Park, a site overlooking Puget Sound from just northeast of the Steilacoom ferry dock.

More than 10,000 people enjoyed music from groups performing in the park鈥檚 bandstand, from late June to August. But if the music is to continue this summer, private donors will have to step up and raise about $40,000.

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The town鈥檚 mayor, Dick Muri, said it’s possible fewer concerts could take place this year if donations come up short.

The city is holding an informational meeting on the future of the concert series on Sunday, January 5, at the Town Hall, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Historically, money for the concert series has come from the city鈥檚 general fund. However, Steilacoom officials had to make a few adjustments and cutbacks this year, due to a property tax that is limited to 1% under state law.

Mayor Muri told The News Tribune the property tax cap has resulted in having to spend less on 鈥渘on-critical鈥� programs, such as the outdoor concert series.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 have a crisis,鈥� he told The News Tribune. 鈥淲e have no debt, really good fund balances. But we鈥檙e now in deficit-spending mode. We鈥檙e small, 6,700 people, (and have) a $200,000 a year annual deficit, which will increase more than likely every year.鈥�

The manager and host of the outdoor concerts for the last 22 years, Marcus Rogers, told The News Tribune he鈥檚 confident those who enjoy the events will raise enough money to continue the series.

鈥淣ow it鈥檚 time to come up with solutions,鈥� Rogers said.

He said he鈥檚 hopeful people will look at the funding problem as an opportunity for growth, and not as a negative.

For years, Rogers said he鈥檚 seen the concerts become a big attraction for families in outlying communities, like Tacoma, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, Lacey and Tumwater.

“We can have a better budget now,” Rogers told the News Tribune. “We can improve our summer concerts if we work together. It鈥檚 that important, I think, for people to find more unity in things that bring us joy, especially during this time when we鈥檙e so divided in so many ways by all the wrong reasons. This is something for us to embrace and own together now. I like the idea that it won鈥檛 be something that potentially will be managed by the town. Let鈥檚 take the town out of it, and let it be owned by the people.”

Steilacoom officials have set up a fundraising mechanism to raise the $40,000 needed to save the outdoor concerts.

You can or mail checks to The Town of Steilacoom at 1030 Roe St., Steilacoom, 98388.

Tom Brock is a weekend anchor, editor and reporter for 成人X站 Newsradio.