The Vicksburg Convention Center broke even to finish the 2018 fiscal year, members of the center’s advisory board learned Wednesday.

And VCC executive director Annette Kirklin said she expects the new fiscal year to be more productive.

According to the center’s annual report, the convention center finished the fiscal year with $359,698 in income with $975,730 in expenses. The city’s subsidy to the center totaled $616,033 for fiscal 2018, offsetting the difference between income and expenses, meaning the center finished with a $1 surplus.

VCC executive director Annette Kirklin said several factors affected the center’s bottom line.

“We had $39,330.34 in unexpected repair and maintenance, we had more events but less income- producing meetings, and we accommodated (Vicksburg) auditorium events while it was closed for repairs, resulting in a $10,091 loss in income.”

The Vicksburg Auditorium was shut down for part of the 2018 fiscal year for repairs, which included the installation of a new heating and air conditioning system. Events scheduled for the auditorium were shifted to the convention center.

“We had to charge the same amount (fee) they charge over there,” Kirklin said, “And lost on food and beverage. We brought in their caterer and we did not make a percentage off the catering, and they were heavily catered events.”

The repairs, she said, included the center’s escalator, air conditioners and plumbing. The escalator, which has been a recurring repair problem for the convention center will be replaced in fiscal 2019.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen in September 2017, approved a $118,500 contract with Jackson-based Cook Farr Douglas Lemons Architects & Engineers to prepare designs and specifications to replace the convention center escalator, upgrade its elevator and repair a 20-year-old retaining wall at the convention center.

“It is an exciting time for us to grow along with Vicksburg,” Kirklin said of the future. “FY 18 was a year of exceptional work and well-earned success. We will be welcoming even more visitors and events in (fiscal) 2018-19 because of the close proximity of the new Margaritaville Vicksburg resort and the excitement surrounding our beautiful city.”

She said the center has booked nine events “that would not have come here because of that resort next door. I’m not talking a meeting of 20; I mean heavy events.

“These (events) are several hundred people that we booked that would not have been booked if not for that hotel. They wouldn’t even talk to us on the phone if we didn’t have a hotel within walking distance. We have nine so far and it is growing, and this is on into 2020.

Kirklin said the convention center has an event involving 450 people next week. Margaritaville, she said, has 175 rooms, meaning some of the participants will go to other hotels in the city.

“Everybody benefits because of that hotel,” she said.

Looking at other statistics for the year in the annual report:

• Events at the convention center for fiscal 2018 had a $5.34 million economic impact on the city, with $3.14 million in director spending. Direct spending is the money event participants spend on food, lodging, beverages and any other activities.

• Attendance at events totaled 53,947 people — 10,000 more than fiscal 2017— and events used 169 days in the fiscal year.