Jan. 19 Daily Briefing: Sales tax slump, flight price hikes, winter league baseball starting, and more

Happy Friday, where we’d like to wish O’Bayley Communications a very happy 20th anniversary. If you’re not a news organization, you might not be familiar with the company Tim O’Bayley started two decades ago. But if you are a news organization, you know the importance of the work Tim and his crew perform. Without their marketing efforts, and the news releases that often result from those efforts, stories about the vital work being done by many nonprofits in our city wouldn’t be told in the pages of local papers, on TV airways, or even in newsletters like this one. Congrats on 20 remarkable years! 🎉

🎶 Setting the mood: “Modern Girl” by The Bleachers

LEADING OFF

City staff surprised at drop in sales tax revenue

The first look at where the budget stands for one of the city’s most important funds revealed an unexpected drop in sales tax revenue during a meeting Thursday evening.

Driving the news: During the regular Measure J Oversight Commission meeting, city staff went over the status of funds generated from the Measure J tax. The numbers show the sales tax revenue midway through fiscal year 2023-2024 is down 6%, or about $400,000.

• Measure J, which was first approved in 2011, allows the city to collect one cent for every dollar spent here, with a few exceptions.

Zoom out: Kristopher Mooney, the city’s director of finance and treasurer, told commissioners the rest of the Coachella Valley is also seeing a decrease in sales tax revenue, and Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage are two of the cities that have been hardest hit.

By the numbers: Mooney said the other cities’ sales tax revenue was down between 5% and 8%, and Rancho Mirage has seen a 12% decrease. Coachella was the only city that saw an increase, at 1.6%. 

Here’s why: For Palm Springs specifically, Mooney said the decrease can be traced back to the city’s two biggest categories — restaurants and auto sales — which “took a big hit” in the last six months.

Why it matters: Mooney said he was surprised at the drop in revenue. When creating the future Measure J budget, city staff had projected an increase in revenue of about 2% to 3%.

What they’re saying: “Hopefully, we recover that [revenue] because the budget would be impacted if the current downward trend continues,” Mooney told commissioners.

Up next: Mooney said city staff is planning to meet with local restaurateurs and car dealership owners soon after getting more details on the revenue decline from city tax consultants. 

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

BRIEFLY

💸 Average PSP airfare up almost 40% since 2021

It seems like prices for just about everything have gone up in the last few years, so it’s no surprise airfare costs have jumped.

• According to a USA Today report, the average cost of airfare at Palm Springs International Airport is $441, a $123 increase since 2021. The 39% hike is the 15th highest increase nationwide.
  
  
• Yes but: Sure, it’s pricier than other nearby airports, but the airport also has “the best waiting room in American aviation,” at least, according to Zócalo Public Square. 

🎻Conductor Lee Mills to helm Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic

Renowned conductor Lee Mills has been named the new executive director of the Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic (PS Phil) during its milestone 50th anniversary season.

• Mills brings to PS Phil significant experience, having been recognized for his energetic conducting style and receiving five Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Awards. 
  
  
• His appointment coincides with a season showcasing internationally acclaimed orchestras, according to a statement from the organization.
  
  
• Details: For subscriptions, tickets, and more information, visit their website here.

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YOUR WEEKEND

ALL WEEKEND

“Mid-Century Moderns”
Revolution Stage Company
Catch this homegrown musical comedy this weekend at Revolution Stage Company. (Tickets start at $55, but you can get $20 off using promo code REV20 at checkout.)

“Sordid Lives”
Palm Canyon Theatre
Enjoy this local production of “Sordid Lives,” described as a “black comedy about white trash.” ($20)

“What the Constitution Means to Me”
Dezart Performs
The Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony-nominated dramatic comedy traces relationships between four generations of women and the founding document that changed their lives. ($48)

TODAY

FOPSL Book Club
2 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
This month, the Friends of the Palm Springs Library Book Club discusses “Who Killed Jane Stanford? A Gilded Age Tale of Murder, Deceit, Spirits and the Birth of a University” by Richard White. To join the club’s email list, sign up here. 

Bingo Night with Angelique Va Gorgeous
5 p.m. | The Lounge at Zoso
“The Queen of the Desert” makes her return to Drag Bingo. ($2)

Pride Night Hockey
7 p.m. | Acrisure Arena
The Firebirds take on the Calgary Wranglers, and because the theme is “Pride Night,” there will be special pre-game events in the plaza, and the first 6,500 fans will get a Pride logo fanny pack. You can also meet the Coachella Valley Pride Hockey Association on-site. They’ll be selling “chuck-a-pucks” to throw on the ice for a prize. ($49)

SATURDAY

Certified Farmers’ Market
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Camelot Theatre
The market returns to its outdoor location, with local farmers and vendors offering fresh agri­cul­tural and related products.

Tahquitz Creek Clean-up
8 a.m. | Tahquitz Creek
Meet other volunteers at the south end of the footbridge on South Riverside Drive at Camino Real, and come prepared with good shoes and gardening gloves if you have them. Trash bags, water, and disposable gloves are provided. 

PALS Seminar
9:30 a.m. | LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert
Planning Ahead for LGBTQ+ Seniors (PALS) presents a seminar on care management.

Janet Davidson Book Signing
1 p.m. | Barnes and Noble 
Janet Davidson’s deeply personal memoir, “Snow White Bites Hollywood…Then Hollywood Bit Back,” was 60 years in the making. In Hollywood, she worked on “Remington Steele,” “Cagney & Lacey,” “Judging Amy,” “Caddyshack,” “Murder She Wrote,” and many more productions.

SUNDAY

Cinema On Ice: “The Thing”
6 p.m. | Camelot Theatres
Embrace the chilly weather through the big screen and immerse yourself in John Carpenter’s stone-cold classic from 1982. There will also be a themed drink, the MacReady J&B lowballs on ice. ($12)

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Health Run & Wellness Festival at Ruth Hardy Park on Jan. 27.
  
  
• PS Woman’s Club Annual Patio Sale on Feb. 3.
  
  
• Black History Committee 14th Annual Awards Gala on Feb. 3.
  
  
• Palm Springs Woman’s Club Scholarship Luncheon at the Hilton on March 27.

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AND FINALLY …

The California Winter League has revealed its 15th season with eight baseball teams competing over a 21-day schedule.

Driving the news: This year’s competition will have an international presence, with 54 players from abroad, including a delegation from MLB Development Center China.

Background: The CWL, known for assisting players to secure professional contracts, returns after an impressive last season, where 32% of its players were offered professional opportunities. 

Plus: Spectators can enjoy themed promotions throughout the season, such as Margarita Monday and Two for Tuesday, while weekends offer special discounts for Canadian residents, cheap draft beer on Saturdays, and a family-friendly Sunday experience.

Details: The season starts on Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Palm Springs Stadium. Single-day tickets start at $10 for adults and $8 for seniors. Learn more online here.