STATE ART BUDGET NEWS UPDATE
As of April 2009, the State Arts budget looks pretty good. I think we probably fared better than we might have expected during ARTS DAY.
The legislature added to the Governor's proposed budget:
$38.9 million... proposed by the Governor
$3.5 million... added by Legislature
.250 thousand... also added for stabilization (this fund was 500k, so it is a 50% cut)
TOTAL $42.650 million for aid to localities (grants to the field)
The Administration budget is $5.482 million.
$42.650 million represents an 8.79% cut from the beginning of FY 2008-09. Not bad!!! And it is obviously MORE than we had in 2008-09 after the 2 mid-year cuts which reduced the NYSCA budget to $38.9 million. Or you can say that we had a small increase of 9% from 2008-09.
This is a testament to the power of grass roots advocacy and the great work of so many people. NYS ARTS convened TWO Arts Days in Albany (read below). We spoke at hearings. We trekked to Albany (Almost 500 people). We generated more than 36,000 emails to the Governor and legislators about the budget.
We all did a great job.
BUT, it is not over.
The total State budget is $131 Billion. We continue to hear that the State faces a growing deficit....of $16 to 17 billion. So, it is likely there will be mid-year cuts. We cannot be complacent. Continue to be in touch with your legislators at home.
Remember that Arts Day is every day.
We helped to make this happen, on ARTS DAY 2009 we were visible, outspoken and everywhere.
At 350-400 strong, the Joint Arts Committee meeting chaired by Assemblyman Steve Englebright and Senator Jose Serrano, was packed. Three buses filled with arts advocates came to Albany, two from NYC (thanks to Harlem Arts Alliance and Local 802) and one from Long Island (thanks to the Huntington Arts Council).
There were a number of Arts Day firsts:
NYSCA's Executive Director Heather Hitchens testified at two committee meetings on Arts Day, Assembly and Senate Arts Committee members were out in force at the Joint Committee Meeting and YouTube testimonies were presented at the hearing. Arts advocates packed the hearing room and the reception. Tom Chapin performed the song he wrote for Arts Day at the hearing.....and then Tom Chapin and Suzanne Vega BOTH performed at the Arts Day Reception in the New York State Museum.
The 2008-09 NYSCA budget news was very disappointing and frustrating.
The Governor's proposed deficit reduction bill was passed on Tuesday February 3. The $7 million is gone! The word is that the organizations in the October and December funding cycles that did not receive funding as a result of this cut will be first in line in the 2009-10 budget.
There were some strong next steps that we took to protect arts funding. Here is what we did:
Met with your legislators at home in their district office; send letters and call your legislators; write letters to the editor of your local papers; get your Board members, audiences, artists, business associates to do the same.
- Pushed for a restoration of the $7 million in the 2009-10 budget
- Pushed for a piece of the federal economic stimulus money that will come to New York State
We made some compelling arguments for the $7 million restoration: the $1.6 billion deficit reduction package that was passed on Tuesday included new taxes, fees, one time fund sweeps, new borrowing, and $315 in million in spending cuts. Included in the $315 in spending cuts were cuts to state agencies that totaled $135 million.
YOU MADE YOUR VOICES HEARD ON ARTS DAY.. We will see you in Albany again next year!
Remember ARTS DAY is everyday!
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