A change in the way the City of Le Mars funded the Le Mars Municipal Band for the 2008/09 fiscal year threatened to cut short the summer concert season for 2009. The change meant the band would need to match dollar-for-dollar the entire $7,500 allocation from the city, not just $2,500 as had been done in previous years.

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"As of now, we have received all the matching funds (in donations) we need for next year," said band treasurer Jim Bogenrief Friday. "We'll get the check from the city next week. We're set for the 2009 summer season."

"The community was really behind us," Bogenrief said.

While there were two checks for $1,000 and one for $500, the rest were in the $25 to $200 range, he noted.

"A lot of people gave to us. We've got a lot of friends out there," Bogenrief said of the 102-year-old band.

"The city treasurer told us we did pretty good," Bogenrief said.

Announcement of the change in funding policy was announced at the last three band concerts of the summer. Still, Bogenrief said everyone was surprised by how quickly the funds came in.

"I hope that it's only a one-year thing, having to ask people to give," Bogenrief said of continued funding from the city. "We'll have to ride it along and hope it works out."

The Le Mars Municipal Band begins their season with music at the Le Mars Memorial Day ceremony at the Plymouth County Courthouse, and continues with six weeks of concerts in the summer, including Ice Cream Days and a patriotic Fourth of July concert.

Through the years, non-profit organizations have sold refreshments at the six concerts in the park.

The City of Le Mars this implemented the same type of matching funding arrangement for the Le Mars Arts Center and the Plymouth County Historical Museum for the 2008/09 fiscal year.