READING, Pa. – Reading City Council heard a request Monday night for $50,000 in operational funding for the Reading Film Office.

Tracy Schott, a filmmaker and president of the Reading Film Office board, explained that the nonprofit organization promotes the region as filming locations and connects filmmakers with small businesses and services including hospitality, catering, restaurants, hair and makeup professionals, facility rentals, actors and musicians.

Schott said on Oct. 8 and 9, the Reading Film Office will be hosting a film location expo where executives representing major production companies and distributors will visit Reading and Berks County.

“This expo is a culmination of years of work, and with the past support of the city and the county, we are literally on the precipice of accomplishing the goal to put Reading on the map as a film location destination,” Schott said.

Because of the elimination of federal grants and because state funds have been frozen, Schott said the organization is in critical need of operation funding.

Schott asked that the city provide $50,000 in emergency funding from the current budget and then include the funding as a line item in the 2026 budget.

Schott reminded council that the city last provided funding to the film office in 2023, but that was through funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Managing Director Jack Gombach said the city wants to support the work of the Reading Film Office, but said the administration would not be supporting the request.

“I think my core concern is setting the precedent of creating essentially a line-item structure when we do not have the funds to support it,” Gombach said.

“We have significant funding priorities, as we’ve shared in our meeting exiting Act 47, and we have to make sure that we’re growing at a rate that our revenues can sustain,” Gombach continued, “and taking on the administrative funding for another organization is not something that we can support in this budget or the next budget.”

“My concern is that when it comes to direct funding, this is something that is not viable for us to take on in the short term,” he added.

Gombach noted that the stance from the administration is not a statement on the value of the work the film office does.

Some councilmembers did not appear to share the administration’s point of view.

Council President Donna Reed said her concern is with the city’s desire to help its small businesses.

“And the ancillary impact of filmmaking is significant,” Reed said. “I urge everyone to do some research on this. When you look at our downtown, those businesses need help, and something like this would be important.”

Reed added that Reading and Berks County have the visuals for desired filming locations.

“I went through Act 47 and am careful about spending money, but guys, we just made a $60,000 mistake with (the original location) for ice-skating rink, and that didn’t help any of our small businesses except the contractor working on it,” Reed said. “I hope we can come to terms with the administration and find something to be helpful to you.”

Gombach stated that the project for the ice-skating rink is projected to be under budget even with the adjustment in the change of locations.

Gombach added that the city should not be misleading other organizations that they can come to council and ask for financial help.

Councilmember Wesley Butler said he is concerned and confused when it comes to the city finances.

Butler said council received a financial report at the beginning of the year that said the city has great financial standing and is able to take risks.

“It’s confusing as a councilor when it just seems like one minute we have the money, and the next minute we don’t,” Butler said.

The request for funding was only discussed Monday night. As it was a Committee of the Whole meeting, no vote was taken.