Patricia by Patricia

Patricia by Patricia
Patricia by Patricia

Friday, May 24, 2024

State Funding Proposed Cut for the Arts

Our own Rosemary KimBal working to save the cuts
during her visit to Sacramento, CA.


Breaking new: Arts Advocates released the following statements after the legislature agreed to restore 75 percent of the recent cuts announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Yesterday, Speaker Rivas and Pro Tem McGuire announced an agreement on a legislative budget that restores $12.5 million in funding for the Equitable Payroll Fund and $5 million to the CAC.

Newsom
 had announced fully cutting the state’s innovative Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund ($12.5 million), plus a reduction of 38% in state grant funding for small arts nonprofits through the California Arts Council (CAC) on May 10 when he released his May Revised budget proposal.


The California Arts Council (CAC) has been in the news recently because of possible 58% cuts in the budget of the organization. This was fully discussed at a public meeting on Friday, May 24 from noon to 4…yes four hours. Here are some of the highlights.

The CAC seems to be against the recently proposed possibility of being relocated within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. (GoBiz) They want more information and want to remain independent.

There has been no great explanation of why the move is proposed except to consolidate expenses and a slight possible suggestion that this office would give a higher profile to the CAC. This umbrella organization has other commissions, but the only other arts one is the Film Commission. It was stated that the CAC vision and mission would not be changed.

If this move does happen, then having the budget cut at the same time seems counter intuitive. Being acknowledged as part of economic development, then why would the arts not get more funding instead of less?

Right now, CAC is an independent council and it is much more than just an economic driver. There are health, education, and health benefits. Becoming part of the Office of Business and Economic Development adds another layer of administration that might slow down all the effectiveness of the organization. So, the majority of the council stated that the move has to be researched more and should not a quick decision especially without the input of the Council itself.  

Please note that the new San Diego County Commission for Arts and Culture  is also under a business and economic development department here in our own county.   

The cuts to the budget that are proposed are $10M reduction in Local Assistance (grant programs) plus a state wide cut of 7.9% for all administration cost.

The past budget was $27m with $10m taken away and a commitment is already made for $6M for General operating grants, that leaves only $4m for new grants.

There was a committee formed on the request of the state staff to make suggestion of how to deal with this $10M loss. These kind of policy decisions are made with rigorous regard to equity.

The suggestion was that general operating funds (GEN) grants will be closed for Tier 2 and 3 (i.e. organization with budgets $250K to $1.5M). Only tier one grants will be considered.

Instead, application for other types of grants will have the deadline extended from June 6 to June 20. This is the give time for those who had submitted GEN grant in tier 2 and 3 be able to rewrite them (with aid and guidance from CAC) to other needs and programs.

There was large public input from many arts organizations in person in LA (where this meeting of the CAC) was held and online. Many just cried loudly for the cuts not to be made. But the best one recommended not to make it easy for the cuts to happen by accommodating those cuts!

So, when the CAC had to vote on the proposal to stop funding tier 2 and 3, they voted 4 for and 4 against which means there was not a majority so the proposal did not pass. Because it did not pass, they could not vote on the extension of timing on the grants.

I believe the issue is now in the hands of those who will urge for no cuts to the arts directly to the Governor. We will now have to be turning to CA for the Arts for more information on advocating.  Hopefully, our own SD Art Matters  will be a leader for our county as they our regional arts advocacy organization. 

Our own Rosemary KimBal working to save the cuts during her visit to Sacramento, CA.