ST. CLOUD, Fla – The recent “Proud in the Cloud” event held last Saturday has come under scrutiny after St. Cloud’s city council incurred additional last-minute staffing costs, exceeding the originally approved budget.
While over 1,500 attendees participated in the event, only $1,250 in taxpayer funds had been initially allocated for the occasion.
According to city officials, the extra staffing expenses were necessary because the council deemed the event organizers’ planning and security arrangements insufficient for the unexpectedly large crowd.
This unplanned expenditure has raised concerns among some council members about the oversight and management of the event.
The event gained attention following a heated city council meeting on June 12, where tensions flared between Mayor Chris Robertson and then Deputy Mayor Shawn Fletcher.
The dispute centered around the issuing of proclamations, specifically a proclamation for Pride Month. Fletcher, who identifies himself as the first openly gay council member, advocated strongly for the proclamation, but the council voted to suspend all proclamations while a more structured process is developed.
Furthermore, questions surfaced regarding Fletcher’s involvement with the group organizing the St. Cloud Pride Alliance—and his reported role in securing a discount for the use of a city-owned venue for the event.
Mayor Robertson publicly questioned the transparency of this arrangement during the meeting, stating to council member Fletcher, “I believe you had more information than the rest of us when you requested that reduction. I believe we had no information.”
He also expressed uncertainty about the Pride Alliance’s nonprofit status.
Requests for further comment from the mayor and council members went unanswered or were declined.
The city council is scheduled to convene again Thursday at 6:30 p.m. to discuss ongoing matters, including those related to the “Proud in the Cloud” event.