A top-notch fiscal show

Despite a 250,000-person drop in attendance, lagging donations and economy-induced suffering, the Orange County Performing Arts Center ended its fiscal year with a larger budget surplus than last year’s by using layoffs and cost-reducing measures.

The center did this without cutting public programs, and the next fiscal year will retain them as well, officials said at the annual members meeting Thursday night.

“The past season was certainly a time of significant financial challenge,” President Terrence Dwyer said in his address at the meeting, saying it seemed the economy would have “a devastating impact on the center.”

But income and donations produced $256,000 more than operating expenses, almost five times the surplus last year, and a $13-million blow to the operating fund, which the center took last year because of a bond venture zeroing in value, was reduced.

In January, center officials realized they would not have a balanced budget if ticket sales and donations continued to lag, so they laid off 10 employees out of the 100 there, instituted a hiring freeze and cut back on costs such as employee conferences.

During the 2007-08 fiscal year, the center recorded an attendance of 754,876, with 528,364 attending events produced directly by the center.

In the 2008-09 fiscal year, which ended June 30, attendance dropped to 507,090 with 305,594 attending center-produced events.

But Todd Bentjen, vice president of marketing and communications, attributed that drop-off to the record-breaking numbers last year, and the incomparable lineup at the center this year.

“This year was not a conscious decision that we need to scale back,” he said.

The lineup of productions was dictated by what shows were available, which in turn drove attendance.

Donations for the center and its endowment fund faltered less significantly, generating about $14.2 million this year compared to $16 million in 2007-08.

Through the administrative cutbacks and financial upheaval, the center continued hosting popular low-cost public offerings such as its free, outdoor Movie Mondays.

Officials announced at the meeting that they plan to continue with those programs, and follow up the award-winning Tour de Force dance gala with another installment along with a fresh season of productions.

“This year really was quite a wild ride,” Dwyer said.

2008-09 fiscal year

Performances: 486

Total attendance: 507,090

Income: $25 million

Donations: $14.2 million

Surplus: $256,000

2007-08 fiscal year

Performances: 610

Total attendance: 754,876

Income: $45 million

Donations: $16 million

Surplus: $52,000