# Mayor spends $95K on Derby guests amid budget cuts debate  
**Published:** 2026-05-12T14:01:53.000Z  
**Source:** [KY Center for Investigative Reporting](https://www.lpm.org/investigate/2026-05-12/golfers-movie-makers-and-the-festival-guy-mayor-spends-95k-on-derby-guests)  
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**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/mayor-spends-95k-on-derby-guests-amid-budget-cuts-debate

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Craig Greenberg spent $95,000 in taxpayer money to host a select group of prominent sports and entertainment executives during this year's Kentucky Derby, according to an [investigation by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting](https://www.lpm.org/investigate/2026-05-12/golfers-movie-makers-and-the-festival-guy-mayor-spends-95k-on-derby-guests).

The guests included [Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association](https://www.motionpictures.org/people/charles-h-rivkin/), along with executives from the PGA of America, a bourbon festival organizer and the University of Louisville athletics director. The group attended Derby events including a private Stakes Room viewing and rooftop terrace gatherings, with photos posted to social media showing the guests alongside members of NSYNC and Sen. Mitch McConnell.

The costs broke down as follows: $61,497 for tickets to premier seating in the Stakes Room, $24,708 for hotel accommodations at Hotel Genevieve in the NuLu district, and $1,300 for invitations designed by a Louisville firm.

The spending occurs as Greenberg proposes what he called a "challenging" city budget for next fiscal year that includes [cuts to conservation groups and about 50 job eliminations](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/science/environment/2026/05/06/louisville-mayor-proposes-cuts-to-conservation-offices/89932362007/).

Greenberg's office defended the use of public funds, saying the Derby is "a great opportunity to bring in new investments, new events, and expand existing events that energize our community." Officials specifically cited the city's effort to attract the 2036 PGA Championship to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

Metro Council Member Shameka Parrish-Wright, one of Greenberg's challengers in the [upcoming nonpartisan mayoral race](https://www.lpm.org/news/2026-01-12/whos-running-for-louisville-mayor-metro-council-in-2026), criticized the expenditure. "I think the focus needs to be on fiscal responsibility," Parrish-Wright said. "I would not spend our public tax dollars that way."

The 2026 spending represents a decrease from prior years. In 2023, Greenberg spent $180,000 hosting executives from LinkedIn, the WNBA and Walt Disney Television. However, the city faced scrutiny last year when officials bypassed standard procurement procedures by using the city's tourism agency to arrange hotel accommodations at the 21c Museum Hotel, where Greenberg formerly served as chief executive. After criticism from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, city officials promised to open future Derby hotel contracts to competitive bidding.

Greenberg, who was elected in 2022, is running for reelection in the May 19 primary. If he wins reelection, he will not be eligible to seek a third term due to a state law change.

## Sources

- [KY Center for Investigative Reporting](https://www.lpm.org/investigate/2026-05-12/golfers-movie-makers-and-the-festival-guy-mayor-spends-95k-on-derby-guests)
- [Motion Picture Association leadership information](https://www.motionpictures.org/people/charles-h-rivkin/)
- [Louisville Courier Journal reporting on budget cuts](https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/science/environment/2026/05/06/louisville-mayor-proposes-cuts-to-conservation-offices/89932362007/)
- [LPM News on 2026 Louisville mayoral election candidates](https://www.lpm.org/news/2026-01-12/whos-running-for-louisville-mayor-metro-council-in-2026)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from KY Center for Investigative Reporting, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://www.lpm.org/investigate/2026-05-12/golfers-movie-makers-and-the-festival-guy-mayor-spends-95k-on-derby-guests.