Some details emerge on Sunset Junction Festival finances

The event was supposed to serve as a fundraiser for youth projects and other nonprofit organizations, but in recent years there wasn't much left over after the expenses were paid out. Already, not a great sign. From the LA Weekly:

Last week's drama over the Alliance's sizable debt to the city, which the organization is contesting, is not what choked the Sunset Junction Festival of money and bled its youth programs. Records show that the Alliance's huge overhead, as compared to its revenue, dried up cash originally meant for youth programs. Though the festival generated nearly $400,000 in 2009, the most recent year for which tax records have been filed, by the time organizers paid the musical acts, permits and other expenses, less than $500 was left for youth outreach. The year before, the festival just broke even, generating nothing for its youth-employment project at the now-closed Tsunami coffeehouse on Sunset Boulevard -- or for its sports or school programs.

Tax filings show that festival founder Michael McKinley earned either a modest salary or none at all, the Weekly reported. Meanwhile, organizers keep insisting that the city tried gouging them for various fees, and that they never got a full explanation on why the charges were so high. Even if you're willing to buy into their claims, there's still that $260,000 bill the festival has yet to pay for 2010's event. They've issued another statement (it's on LAist) that sounds like a bit of a whine - and still no word on refunds for vendors and attendees.