The Advocate reported today that the Cajundome has cut its budget by 20 percent, laying off six employees. More cuts are coming.
The Cajundome has downsized its operations by $1 million as a result of a bad economy and rising insurance and food costs. On Monday, six full-time employees were laid off and more cuts will be made to utility, travel and supplies expenses, Cajundome Director Greg Davis said. “We’ve had a number of things occur outside of the building that is affecting our financial position at the Cajundome,” Davis said. “It’s almost like a perfect storm of financial circumstances.” Those circumstances include a recent increase in the building’s property insurance premium by $200,000 a year and a judge’s order this summer that the arena start paying sales tax has also contributed to the need for the cuts, Davis said. The cuts equate to a 20 percent reduction in the arena’s $5 million budget.