How much money does Indio get from Coachella and Stagecoach?

For 28 years, Doraliz Rodriguez loved the view from her Indio home.

“We used to see the fireworks from the fairgrounds and over there from Coachella. It was really cool growing up in a neighborhood where they had that kind of stuff,” Rodriguez said.

Since 2010, the Fourth of July sky over the fairgrounds did not light up. The city says the $60 thousand firework display cost too much.

“They have Coachella Fest, Stagecoach. I understand that brings in revenue, and if it’s bringing in revenue, then why not do something for the locals?” Rodriguez said.

We asked that question to Indio city manager, Dan Martinez. First off, look at the numbers.

This year and last, Indio gets $2.33 per pass sold for Coachella and Stagecoach, adding up to, “About a half a million dollars last year, and a half a million dollars this year,” Martinez said.

He said that money goes to, “Public safety, to improve our roads, fund our Teen Center and Senior Center.”

Money from Stagecoach and Coachella goes into the city’s general fund, but it could come back out in the future.

“There is a desire to bring that back. It’s a fun event for families. I don’t know if it will come back this year; it’s a City Council decision. I think in the next year or two the council will be considering bringing that back,” Martinez said.

Doraliz says she won’t believe it until she sees it.

“I think they’re going to come up with a million and one excuses as to why not to have it,” she said.