- May 2, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Debating how much money to give out to cultural arts organizations via grants, the City Council last week decided to strip away some of the regulation and cap the maximum grant at $3,000.
Originally, city staff recommended budgeting $20,000 in cultural arts grants for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, the same amount that was budgeted in both 2011 and 2012. But City Council members wanted to see some changes.
The grants are intended to provide funding for cultural arts programs and/or events that are conducted in the city by a city-based organization. There are two levels of grant funding available.
A program in its first or second year of presentation can receive a maximum of $5,000. Ongoing programs, or those in their third year or longer of presentation, can put in a maximum request of $3,000.
Last year, the cultural arts programs requested $40,500 in grants. The city budgeted $20,000 and disbursed $18,276.
“Cultural arts grants are consistent with Prosperity 2021,” City Councilman Jason DeLorenzo said. "It strengthens neighborhoods. ... It’s good for the entire community, so there is a benefit there.”
Now, all organizations will be eligible for a maximum of $3,000.
“All of this self-sufficiency talk and different levels of funding — let’s do away with it and make it simple,” City Manager Jim Landon said.
Under the proposed changes, the City Council will set its budget for cultural arts grants and then distribute the money to the organizations. Last year, nine organizations received grants.
Although city staff recommended $20,000, next fiscal year’s cultural arts grants budget could be as high as $30,000.
DeLorenzo suggested setting it at $25,000. “That would help us get one or two more programs,” he said.
City Councilman Bill McGuire, however, wants organizations to become self sufficient.
“If you’re planning to have some sort of event every year down the road, then you should have some type of business plan to get you the funds you want,” McGuire said. “How are you going to sustain this program that you’re embarking on?”
Landon said the city used to provide cultural arts grants to organizations for two or three years and then the organizations were no longer eligible. The idea, Landon said, was to encourage the organization to get started and then keep it going. But after two or three years, the organizations asked the City Council to extend the eligibility.
The city will continue its budget discussions this month.
“Based on what I’m hearing from you all, it’s a benefit for the community, and let’s not put on all this criteria,” Landon said.
