Clement: no tax support for beer festival

City Councilman Howard Clement (right) doesn't think much of having an annual World Beer Festival in Durham, and he made his feelings known during Friday's retreat on the city's 2010-11 budget.

When Deputy City Manager Ted Voorhees reported that the city spends $26,350 a year in set-up, take-down and maintenance services for the festival, Clement said, "Why should the taxpayers incur the cost?

"I'm not comfortable with that festival," Clement said. "I just don't think that adds to Durham's persona the way I would want Durham's persona reflected.

"I just hope in 2010 we have an opportunity to vote up or down on whether we should support this," he continued. "I vote no."