The music will have to play on at Cumberland Caverns Live without financial backing from city taxpayers.

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has determined McMinnville officials cannot give $40,000 to a for-profit private business.

The city Finance Committee met last month and approved the donation, contingent upon comptroller approval.

RCS Production, which produces Cumberland Caverns Live, requested assistance from the city to help in “generating a buzz” and keeping music at Cumberland Caverns, an appeal made due to the city’s previous allocation of funds toward the PBS filming of Bluegrass Underground at Cumberland Caverns.

Creating the difference is that PBS is a nonprofit corporation, and the city’s allocation went toward that endeavor. Both Cumberland Caverns and RCS Production are private, for-profit companies.

Mentioned at a prior meeting was a potential agreement in the works between WCTE-TV and RCS Production to film Cumberland Caverns Live concerts for broadcast. WCTE is nonprofit, owned and operated by the Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council, and an affiliate of PBS.
If that agreement materializes, city officials will likely reconsider the donation given statements made in support.

“I would like to do something to make sure they stay here,” said Alderman Ben Newman. “I don’t want them to fizzle out because of lack of capital. I want to keep them here. It helps keep people coming here and helps tourism.”

Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury works to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in government and publicly funded entities. It conducts annual audits to ensure compliance.