Testimony of DCAA Chair Robert Bettmann to City Council
July 24, 2009
I’ve appreciated the opportunities that I’ve had to meet a few of you over the last two years, and I’m happy to have this opportunity to offer my opinion on the proposed FY ’10 budget.
It’s clear from the gap-closing narrative that the city is struggling with a very real need to reduce overall commitments. The city is trying to avoid a financial crisis, and I have great respect for the seriousness with which the mayor and this body are dealing with the responsibility. However, I am here to today in my capacity as Chair of the DC Advocates for the Arts to discuss why arts funding is important, and to argue that you should increase arts funding in the FY 2010 budget.
With the size of the overall budget, you might not realize the impact that arts funding has on this community. Arts funding is a tiny line, with a massive impact. Now is not the time for the city to be cutting efficient investments in revenue creation, and service provision.
The arts community, which is significant revenue base for the District, is in a major crisis. I’m sure you’ve heard about some of the major layoffs locally, and the demise of regional and national arts institutions. Donations are down and private foundation giving is down. Arts funding needs to be increased to provide support to the organizations and artists that provide the tax revenue, jobs, and arts education programming that we have come to expect. The creative economy can be part of the solution to the current crisis, but it needs to be supported.
FY 09 funding was budgeted in two ways. Almost 6 million, or 40% of overall funding, occurred through earmarks written by this chamber. The draft budget cuts a relatively minor percentage from the DCCAH general fund, but earmarks are way down. If you eliminate earmarks, or massively reduce earmarks, without increasing the base budget for the DCCAH, you are effectively halving the arts budget from FY 09.
Money allocated to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities supports arts education programming for thousands of DC school children, in every ward. But it also supports hundreds of small businesses, and entrepreneurial artists. Arts funding dollars provide services, and generate tax revenue. In recognition of the current economic crisis I hope that this council will give extra attention to those portions of the budget that support tax revenue, and that you will increase the draft FY 10 allocation to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities to FY 09 levels.
I appreciate your time and efforts on behalf of our city.
