Latest Flatus of Arlogance
Remember the problems the Arlington County Board faced this past winter when the County Manager presented the Board with a proposed FY 2011 budget that included an estimated $65 million budget gap. While the gap was reduced somewhat, the Board still raised real estate taxes 9.5% to $0.958 per $100 of valuation, and it resulted in the elimination of many FTE’s. See our Growls here and here.
Consequently, it was surprising to see the report in yesterday’s online Arlington Sun Gazette by Scott McCaffrey that the Board was set to approve almost $250,000 in arts grants. In his report, McCaffrey wrote:
“County Board members on July 10 are expected to approve nearly $250,000 in funding for arts organizations in fiscal 2011, as recommended by the Arlington Commission for the Arts.
“The 22 grant submissions being recommended for funding include 19 from arts organizations and three from artists. A total of 47 applications, totaling $1.04 million, was received.”
The Manager’s recommendation for approval of the arts grants is item #36 on the Board’s so-called “consent” agenda at their July 10, 2010 meeting.
It's not that we are opposed to the arts, it's just the arts should not be receiving taxpayer subsidies at a time when they are being plundered by other levels of government.