SALEM — This year's Haunted Happenings scared up a 32.7 percent increase in city revenue, outdoing 2009's monthlong event by more than $65,000, according to figures from the city.
Overall, Salem netted $267,463 for the five weeks of Haunted Happenings, the city's celebration of Halloween.
"I'm glad we had another year of positive experiences for people who came here and something that was safe and fun," Mayor Kim Driscoll said yesterday. "It's better managed now and more lucrative, two important aspects of what we're trying to do."
Since 2007, the city has seen a mostly steady increase in income from Haunted Happenings.
The money goes directly into the city's operating budget, Driscoll said. She was unsure how the city would use the money, in part because not all income or bills arrive at once.
"The economics are important," she said. "It's $267,000 that's not coming from taxpayers to fund city services."
Kate Fox, executive director of Salem's tourism arm, Destination Salem, said the five weeks of October combined with consistently good weather made for a successful season. Other than one Sunday afternoon with rain and frigid temperatures — Halloween — the weather in October was "phenomenal," she said.
City officials estimated the numbers of visitors Halloween weekend alone at 100,000, and the business community was upbeat about both the turnout and income throughout the month.
"The feedback was almost unanimously positive," Fox said of the business community. "It was a better October, and some were saying it was the best October they had."
Salem's expenses for Haunted Happenings totaled $196,341 this year, while revenue was $463,805, according to the city.
The city's largest revenue generators are its parking lots, parking meters and garages, along with admissions to the city-owned Witch House, accounting for $373,293.45 just for Haunted Happenings. Most of the rest of the city's income was created by sponsorships and fees for licenses, inspections and festival income from Fiesta Shows.
Top among expenses was the $118,119 in estimated pay for police, including city officers, the Essex County Sheriff's Department, other departments, the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council and mounted police from the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department.
The figure is $19,982 less than last year's police expense.
Driscoll credited Chief Paul Tucker with making the policing more efficient. Also, some of the sending police departments did not charge for their time to the city, she said.
Though city officials were nervous about Halloween falling on a weekend, that anxiety turned out to be needless, she said. Visitors came earlier in the season, she said, and the crowd was more family-friendly.
"I think it's great to have the festival atmosphere in October," the mayor said. "It's a really special time to be here."
The Department of Public Works was the city's next-largest expense, costing $24,595.
After every Halloween, the mayor said she meets with city department heads to discuss ways to improve the experience. This year, feedback was positive particularly on the additions of the beer tent on Federal Street and the nearby music stage.
"I think people felt like that went really well and wasn't a problem," she said.
Driscoll said the city continues to solicit feedback from residents through its online survey, which will be available online through next week. It can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/HauntedHappenings2010.
For a printed copy, call Destination Salem at 978-741-3252.
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
