Salina Downtown Inc. Staffing Discussion Highlights Cost of Running Downtown Farmers Market
As the Farm & Art Market Downtown moves into its 2026 season, Salina Downtown Inc. has faced a practical staffing question: how much it takes to hire someone to manage one of downtown’s regular public events.
Board minutes reviewed by Salina311 show that Salina Downtown Inc. discussed the manager position for the Farm & Art Market, including concerns that the proposed pay may have been too low to attract or secure candidates for the role.
The board ultimately approved a $4,000 salary for the position, with authority to negotiate up to $5,000 if needed. The executive director was also given discretion in the hiring process.
The discussion provides a closer look at the behind-the-scenes cost of downtown programming. While public events such as the Farm & Art Market are often viewed by residents as community amenities, they require coordination, staffing, vendor communication, scheduling, setup, promotion and on-site management.
The Farm & Art Market Downtown is held at 149 N. Santa Fe Avenue and runs during the warmer months of the year. The market brings together local growers, producers, artists, food vendors and residents in downtown Salina.
For vendors, the market can serve as a direct sales opportunity. For downtown businesses, it can help bring additional foot traffic into the district. For residents, it provides access to local food, handmade goods and a recurring Saturday morning activity.
The staffing discussion raises a broader question for Salina Downtown Inc. and the downtown district: whether the cost of running public events is keeping pace with the responsibilities required to manage them.
A market manager position can involve more than simply being present during market hours. Duties may include communicating with vendors, handling applications, assigning spaces, enforcing rules, responding to weather issues, coordinating setup and teardown, answering public questions and helping ensure the event runs consistently through the season.
The issue also connects to a larger review of downtown funding and services. Salina Downtown Inc. plays a role in downtown promotion, programming, maintenance and business support. The organization receives support through multiple funding sources, including Business Improvement District fees, Downtown Community Improvement District proceeds, façade grant funding and city operational support.
Because downtown programming is one of the services tied to that funding model, staffing becomes part of the public discussion. Events require people to plan and manage them, and those positions come with real costs.
The board minutes do not indicate that the Farm & Art Market was at risk of cancellation. Instead, the discussion shows the operational challenge of staffing recurring community events at a pay level that can attract applicants.
Questions that remain include how many applicants were considered, whether the final pay landed at $4,000 or closer to the $5,000 cap, what duties are included in the position, and whether future market budgets will need to account for higher staffing costs.
As Salina continues to invest in downtown activity, the Farm & Art Market offers a specific example of the work required to turn downtown programming from an idea into a functioning public event.