SEVEN FIELDS — Borough council’s Monday, Aug. 25, meeting turned to debate after councilman Jeff Smouse raised concerns over the borough’s spending of tax money on community events — notably the Seventh Annual Beer, Wine & Music Festival.

According to the borough’s expense sheet, the event sold 392 tickets, seven more than 2024’s event. However, the event’s $10,260.56 price tag far exceeded the borough’s $4,835 in earnings, resulting in a deficit of $5,425.56.

Similarly, in 2024, the event earned the borough $4,720, compared to a cost of $10,459.92, causing a deficit of $5,739.92.

The borough spent $3,862 and $3,150 on advertising alone in 2024 and 2025, respectively, which Smouse pointed out came close to the earnings by itself.

“My concern is that we’re spending taxpayer dollars for people that may not even be Seven Fields residents to go and have a good time at a beer and wine festival, and I’m not sure we should be doing that,” Smouse said.

While borough manager Thomas Smith said that it was difficult to track what portions of attendees were residents and nonresidents, council member Morgan Hardesty estimated that it was 75% residents and 25% nonresidents.

“I get where he is coming from with some of this,” Hardesty said. “I think there needs to be a little bit more transparency with some of these expenditures to see the difference, and why we are losing so much money.”

Smouse said his suggestion would be that, going forward, there be a vote in the future on realistic earnings and spending separately, and that advertising spending be reduced.

“Maybe we don’t have to advertise as much, because it’s really getting traction and people love it,” Kimberly Regan-Koch, council president, said.

Concerns also were raised by the two council members about other community events.

Smouse said the carnival should not be open for nonresidents since the borough doesn’t make enough back in income, leaving it up to taxpayers to cover the deficit.

Hardesty said he thinks the food truck event is great, but he has received feedback from residents saying it should not take place every Wednesday in August. He said they experience burnout due to the event’s high frequency.

Hardesty said he is not looking for an answer right away, but at some point in the future.

“These details don’t get discussed or voted on publicly, and I think they should,” Smouse said.

Regan-Koch said nonresidents purchase tickets to the events. Her own family members traveled from out of state for the event, and she purchased nearly 30 tickets for them.

Smouse said the issue is residents are contributing tax dollars to fund the event because the ticket costs don’t cover the spending.

“I don’t think we’re ever, ever going to make money on these events,” Regan-Koch said in response.

The discussion turned heated when Regan-Koch suggested Hardesty was off topic and council should stick to agenda items. She said the matter of spending on these events should be discussed during budget season in October.

“We’re allowed to bring these things up about it. He (Smouse) is allowed to raise a question about it. I don’t know what’s the big deal about it,” Hardesty said. “We’re questioning the financials of something, and we’re just requesting clarity on it.”

Smouse said Hardesty was on topic, contrary to what Regan-Koch said.

“I would like to discuss this and vote on it before we spend it. I don’t think that’s unreasonable,” Smouse said. “This is not the Dawn (Servello) and Kim (Regan-Koch) show to decide what you want to do in private conversation to talk.”

Regan-Koch and Servello voiced their disagreement with Smouse’s comment.

Smouse said he has brought up the matter during budget season before, but in the past, other members were upset at Smouse for raising those questions.

“I get told that we’ll deal with it later. And there’s no vote,” Smouse said.

“Where are the dollars being spent? And why aren’t we seeing them?” Hardesty asked.

Regan-Koch asked Hardesty why he was raising his voice, to which he said he was getting frustrated because she kept fighting him.

The argument came to a conclusion when Regan-Koch, as council president, closed debate.

“We’re going to table this and move on,” Regan-Koch said. “That’s all there is to it at this point.”