The former chief executive of GO Cedar Rapids refused to cut expenses as the budget for the newbo evolve festival continued to grow to a $2.3 million loss, including the last-minute signing of a rock band that the GO Cedar Rapids board was unaware of, reports the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Board member John Myers said that former chief executive Aaron McCreight and creative director Scott Tallman presented the board with inaccurate information during the planning of the newbo evolve festival, which took place in downtown Cedar Rapids on Aug. 3-5. Myers said the board had never approved several expenses, including the last-minute signing of the Wallflowers to open for Kelly Clarkson, and a higher pay rate for headliner Maroon 5. Observers outside of GO Cedar Rapids questioned how the tourism bureau was able to take on such a great financial risk for a large event.