VIDALIA — In the 2015 fiscal year, running the Vidalia Riverfront cost the City of Vidalia nearly eight times the amount of revenue the Riverfront generated.

The city’s 2015 audit, which was released last week, shows the Riverfront Development Fund brought in $137,605 in rental charges and $154 in other services. The fund includes the operations, upkeep and securing of the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center, the amphitheater and river walk.

The total operating expenses for the Riverfront came to $1,042,176, leading it to an operating loss of $904,417, or approximately $2,477.86 each day.

The deficit was shrunk somewhat by the Riverfront’s non-operating income — $210,048 in state and federal funds, and $13 in interest earnings — leaving the loss at $694,356 before transfers in from other funds.

After transfers— which at $833,670 were larger than the deficit— the Riverfront Development Fund had a positive change in net position of $139,314, ending with $6,437,427 in the fund. Of that, $6,256,311 are considered capital assets.

“We realize that operational expenses increased this past fiscal year, however all expenses pertaining to the riverfront are reflected in this account — the amphitheater, convention center, river walk, security, maintenance and upkeep, insurance for the facilities, employee expenses, etc.,” Mayor Hyram Copeland said in a written statement.

“We increased security to provide safer facilities for citizens last fiscal year and funds were allocated for advertising in the current fiscal year, which would be used for marketing items, brochures and anything that may help promote the VCCC.  The convention center, as well as the other riverfront facilities, were instrumental in the new TownePlace Suites breaking ground this spring, and the economic benefit of this new business hasn’t yet been recognized.

“Expenses exceeding revenue is expected, and budgeted, since the facility is used as a community center and fees are often waived, however, we constantly look at how money is spent and try to find ways to scale back expenses; but we will not do this at the expense of keeping facilities up-to-date, operational and safe for our citizens.”

The biggest expense by far for the Riverfront was personnel services, costing $630,962 for the year. The second biggest expense was “other services and charges,” at $211,976.

Materials and supplies cost another $99,756, and the final $99,662 in expenses was noted as “depreciation.”

Where the money transferred into the Riverfront Development Fund came from is not specifically spelled out in the audit, which also notes the town’s general fund exceeded its budgeted expenditures by $1,161,066.