Even though it is only November, volunteers in Westmont are already working to plan next summer’s Taste of Westmont festival.

One thing planners are looking at is trying to cut into a roughly $16,000 deficit that the festival had last year, which could mean raising some prices.

The group also is looking to increase sponsorships for next year, organizers said.

The Westmont Special Events Corp., a nonprofit group of volunteers that organizes the Taste of Westmont each year, presented a wrap-up presentation of this year’s event to the Westmont Village Board Oct. 29.

The village held the three-day festival in July, featuring a Woodstock theme in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the legendary music festival.

WSEC president Bob Mackert said the organization was able to put on the successful event without asking the village for financial assistance.

“The 2009 Taste was a great success and we are looking forward to 2010,” Mackert said. “Often with these events, there is a down time afterwards, but we are already beginning to set goals for next year.”

WSEC officials said the goal is to try to find a way to cut into the $16,000 deficit, which could mean raising prices on alcohol or selling wristbands for the carnival next year.

A recent survey on the village Web site regarding the festival indicated responses to raising the prices at the event was about split, Mackert said.

Among the highlights of this year’s event was 19 food vendors, up 13 from the previous year, which bought in about $15,000 in revenue. A downtown business participation program and craft show this year was new and pretty well received, officials said.

One option the WSEC is considering is a Texas-Hold’em fundraiser event before the festival next year as a way to bring in some money for the event.

“Our main goal is to find a way to boost revenues so we can continue to hold the kind of event we are used to,” Mackert said.

Mayor William Rahn said the Taste of Westmont is one of those events the village looks forward to each year.

“What makes the event special is the number of volunteers that put countless hours into the Taste, and other events,” Rahn said. “Those volunteers are what makes this such a wonderful event.”

The WSEC has again indicated, despite the deficit, they do not plan to ask the village for funding for next year’s Taste of Westmont.