‘Friends of Mary C.’ discuss the city ending contract

On July 14^th, the City of Ocean Springs decided to end its contract with the ‘Friends of Mary C.’ during a closed door meeting of the board of aldermen.

For the last 20 years, the ‘Friends of Mary C.’ has helped manage and write grants for the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center for Arts and Education.

Yesterday News 25 spoke with Ocean Springs Mayor Shea Dobson about the decision. Dobson said Ocean Springs hopes to further expand the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center under the new parks and recreation director.

Today, News 25 talked with Elizabeth Feder-Hosey, board chair for ‘Friends of Mary C.,’ about the financial impact the contract severance could have on the cultural center. “To say it won’t be impacted, I really don’t see how that statement even translates. And, you know, our annual operating budget is around $400,000 annually. Where is that in the city budget?  I have not seen a place for that in the city budget. So, you know, when you look at our finances, I mean, we spend at least $200,000 a year in our instructors– paying our instructors, getting them here. And then we’re a non-profit. So we spend all that money essentially to make no money. We’re just providing services at no cost to the taxpayers.”

The City of Ocean Springs ordered the ‘Friends of Mary C.’ to vacate the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in the next 90 days.