SEALYBRATION CANCELLED

  

A summertime tradition in Sealy will not be held this year.

The Sealy Community Foundation announced on Wednesday that Sealybration has been cancelled.

A letter from the Sealy Community Foundation Board of Directors said the organization could not afford to hold the event, blaming “severe underfunding by the City of Sealy via HOT [hotel occupancy tax] funds.”

The foundation claimed it has received fewer HOT funds from the city “with each passing year.”  It said it has been put into the situation of owing lenders for money acquired to hold last year’s Sealybration, and that the city only now awarded it “a fraction of the money” nine months after the event.  The letter said, “We are three months away from Sealybration 2023 with no additional funding.”

The City of Sealy issued a response on Wednesday, saying it did not receive the original documentation to reimburse the foundation for Sealybration 2022 until October, and the documents were incomplete.  The city said it received the final pieces this month and is still awaiting documents for Fantasy of Lights held in December. 

The city said it “must and will comply with state law to ensure that any HOT funds paid out meets these laws and that documentation and sound accounting practices are in place.”  It added, “It is unfortunate that the city’s obligation to meet legal requirements has led to this cancellation.  The hope is that other community-based organizations will rise to the challenge of volunteerism for new events that comply with the law.”

According to the city, approximately $700,000 has been contributed for both Sealybration and Fantasy of Lights over the past 13 years, along with assistance from city staff with event preparation, cleanup, and facility use.    

While the foundation’s letter acknowledged it has “an uncertain future,” Sealy Community Foundation President Melanie Willingham told The Sealy News that she expects Sealybration will come back next year.