In the course of a year, there are all sorts of events, programs, festivals and competitions people enjoy. The diversity of these offerings enriches the lives of citizens and deserves the support of the community and city leaders.

There are any number of ways cities support these events – sharing information on social media, closing streets, issuing permits, etc.

Then of course, there are requests for funding, which are fraught with perils.

There are institutional events and organizations such as Market Street Festival and Columbus Arts Council that are rightfully included in the city’s annual budgeting process.

Generally, though, the number of requests far outnumbers the amount of taxpayer money set aside for these offerings.

This week, Columbus City Council ran out of event funds, highlighting the need for a clear policy. Without a policy, funding decisions risk appearing arbitrary and lead to accusations of favoritism.

Right up front, it’s important to note that funding events is not an essential function of local government. We have special sales taxes dedicated to tourism and entertainment and an autonomous body to manage those funds in the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Governments may choose to create a small fund to support worthy events that somehow have slipped through the cracks.

If such funds are included in the budget, there should be a policy to follow. To date, Columbus has been somewhat haphazard about allocating such funds. Clearly, groups are going to continue to approach the council for funding so a policy would help lead to good – and fair – decisions.

It’s not the existence of a policy that matters, but the thought, the discussions and debates that shape the policy that are most useful.

Has the council ever sat down and really thought about how these funds should be distributed? Do they have criteria that help them evaluate each request on its own merits? Are there requirements for those who seek these funds? Really, what is it that makes the difference between an event that benefits the city and its residents in a meaningful way and an event that might simply be fun for those who participate?

We recall the decade-long chaos that ensued every time the CVB Board distributed festival funding. That chaos persisted because there wasn’t a thorough, understandable policy to follow. It was a fight every time with a lot of hard feelings and accusations. That acrimony subsided once the CVB put together a clear, coherent, functional policy.

If the city of Columbus is going to have a fund set aside for sponsoring events – especially requests outside its normal budgeting process – it is inconceivable not to have a policy to bring order and fairness to the process.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.