Viva El Paso Is On For This Year, But The Future Isn’t Clear

By El Paso Inc.

The popular pageant that tells the rich history of El Paso through song and dance celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. But whether it will celebrate a 36th anniversary is uncertain.

For months, the troubled organization that produces ?Viva! El Paso? has toiled to revive its non-profit status. As El Paso Inc. first reported last June, the Internal Revenue Service revoked the non-profit?s tax-exempt status after finding it failed to file annual returns since 2002.

The El Paso Association for the Performing Arts is also reportedly being investigated by the Texas attorney general, after a former board member raised questions about how it operates.

Luz Ramos, the president of the association?s board, says the organization will produce ?Viva! El Paso? this year as a for-profit. It will have to pay taxes, donations are no longer tax exempt and it can?t take advantage of charitable grants, marking a new era for the troubled show.

It?s been 10 years since the association filed IRS Form 990, which discloses things like revenue and executive compensation.