Warren Fiske
The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
The General Assembly will not be serving pork during the coming budget year.
Faced with a flat state economy and a projected $1 billion shortfall in revenue for needed state programs, key legislative budget writers say they will not set aside money for nonstate museums, cultural programs and charities in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The impact will be deeply felt in South Hampton Roads, where 35 organizations - including the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach - have received $8.2 million in state largesse over the past two years.
Officials at several of the organizations said they will try to step up private fundraising. But they also voiced concerns that much-anticipated projects may be delayed.
"It's devastating for us not to receive that money," said Lynn Clements, executive director of the Virginia Aquarium, which was allocated $500,000 from the state in each of the past two budget years.
"We want to replace our 'Ocean in Motion' truck," she said. "It's a traveling Winnebago for fish." The $1.3 million setup is an aquarium on wheels, with 150,000 miles on it, that visits schools all over the state.
Across Virginia, about 300 cultural organizations that are not part of state government have received funding to the tune of $63.4 million during the current, two-year state budget.
Critics call the money "pork." Lawmakers term it "grants to nonstate agencies."
Recipients say the cash is vital, but many have learned not to depend on it for operating costs.
The money is only as good as the state's economy.
When times are bullish, cultural organizations are flush. The high point in state funding came during the technology boom at the turn of the century, when the General Assembly doled out $80 million over two years.
But the same groups received nothing during the bearish years of 2002 and 2004.
The General Assembly, scheduled to adjourn Saturday, has not yet given final approval to a new two-year budget that will begin July 1.
The House and Senate have approved competing versions of the budget, however, and neither contains money for cultural organizations.
House and Senate budget negotiators say the money won't be forthcoming.
"Both sides are in agreement we won't do nonstates," said Del. Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights. "I think people are looking for us to make tough decisions during these difficult times."
Added Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News, "This is a tight budget, and we've got to make the core services of state government a higher priority than the nonstate agencies."
Lawmakers say they will reconsider funding the organizations next year if the economy improves.
In December, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine asked the legislature to appropriate $250,000 apiece in the 2009- 10 fiscal year for the Virginia Aquarium and three other attractions in Hampton Roads.
The Chrysler Museum planned to use its $250,000 to convert a bank building it
recently acquired into a new, larger home for its art reference library. The bank is on property adjacent to the museum.
"It's not going to adversely affect the museum's operation, but it's going to mean that the facilities for the arts in Virginia are not going to be as good or as competitive as they otherwise would be," said Bill Hennessey, the museum's director.
The Mariners' Museum in Newport News earmarked the money to help pay for the year-old USS Monitor Center, a museum within a museum on the maritime aspect of the Civil War.
"That's money that was budgeted for," said Tim Sullivan, president and CEO of the museum. "We'll have to find a way to make up for it."
The Virginia Arts Festival wanted its $250,000 to go toward its campaign for a larger headquarters in downtown Norfolk, said Rob Cross, the festival's director.
This year and last, the group was allocated a total of $725,000 in state agency funding.
If the festival doesn't get the grant, Cross said, "we'll just have to extend the fundraising time frame."
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
Teresa Annas, (757) 446-2485, teresa.annas@pilotonline.com
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Cutting Back Is Not The Only Alternative
Other states such as Nevada, Delaware, & New Jersey, have legalized activities that are frowned upon by states, such as the Commonwealth of Virginia, as immoral, & or criminal. They are reaping vast amounts of tax income in their coffers. The treasuries there seem to have no problem paying for what is needed by the state, without gouging it's taxpayers. I'm a Virginian, & have nothing against those 3 states, except perhaps jealously, that in at least some of them, if not all, their taxes are less than mine, yet, they still get to have no cutbacks on museums, or art, new schools, libraries, roads, no sales tax, etc. You get the point.
Sandler Center
I believe the Sandler Center was most built on the taxpayer's backs. Now I find out that they also have been receiving help from the commonwealth. If this place can't support itself, turn it into something that can pay for itself.
Make cuts elsewhere.
Cut back on free social services for the un-needy and un-deserving. Save a bundle. I have to take a urinalysis to keep my job. Make everyone who recieves free anything from the state take one in order to recieve it. Save a bundle there, too, if they get popped for drugs. Gosh, I wish I could be in charge...
The Schooner Virginia???
We taxpayers are STILL funding that dumb wooden replica? WHY? Much of the non-essentail government spending on thie list should have been cut from the state budget decades ago! While these "cuts" are only a drop in the bucket, I applaud the effort to actually reduce state government spending and try to restore the use of our taxpayer funds to the limited list of essential and required government services.
The Schooner Virignia is a richman's toy that should never have had a dime of tax dollars given to it without a referendum asking the voters if they desire to pay for this non-essentail boondoggle. Ironically, millions were sepnt on this project using transportation funds!
I support Arts funding.
I believe funding for the Arts is important but understand the budget needs across Virginia. If we have the funds, we should support Arts in our communities.
The arts are fun....
I would encourage all citizens to support the arts, it's fun, enlightening and economical...for the whole family. Take a painting class, pottery, weaving, an acting class. Nothing beats a museum visit. Whatever you choose, do with your children, friends, your neighbors. Supporting the arts improves our communities, our families, and our lives....and it's fun....why not do something interesting....get out there....If you live in Suffolk or a surrounding community....the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts has it all....and they are friendly, not stuffy, family orientated....and they really appreciate you....
OK
How many people use the public library, and how much does it cost to operate? Can you answer these simple questions? Would it shock you to discover that we are paying 10 times as much to operate the library as it would cost to simply buy everyone that uses it every book they have checked out? I am not saying that the library is a bad thing. All I am asking is that the entity that is payed for with my money justify its existence, that's all. But no, we won't do that. We never ask govt funded organizations for an accounting. That would violate some socialist principle.
Contrary to what some people think
there are still a lot of people out there that can't afford to buy books or don't have internet access. The education system depends on public libraries to help support their summer reading programs and curriculum's. Also the Internet is not secure and it is a vary public place. It is difficult to sort out the scholarly information as opposed to the junk. Libraries help do that. Also many people don't realize that librarians have been fighting the war to keep an individual's information private. They also have fought for the freedom of information and the right to make your choices on what to read. They have been fighting for basic rights and freedoms at the cost of their jobs and careers. Remember checking out a book and reading it in your home is private. On the internet no information is private.
Oh, Rose...
Museums (Chrysler and Nauticus and VA Aquarium and 100 more in the area) contribute to society just as much as libraries do and should be supported. Hands-on exhibits at an aquarium or science center can inspire a child just as much (if not more so) than reading. There is a huge difference between a muscle car museum and the Chrysler Museum of Art, btw. I'm sure you can see the difference between a niche museum that will do nothing to expand the mind and a museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing art.
And I don't want to hear from any yahoo out there arguing that a '67 Camaro is art - it ain't.
Library's are a necessity and needed.
VA Marine Science and Chrysler Hall are nice to haves but fall more under the private interest. I can go to the library and get a book to take me on a journey to far away lands or to research art, marine life or even work on my car. In other words, it is of interest to all at one time or another. If a person pops up and say they want state funding for an Adult Industries Museum with hands on exhibits do you think that should be subsidized with public funding? Or how about a Muscle Car Museum? My husband and a lot of people we know are interested in muscle cars, but they don't expect the rest of the taxpayers to pay for their pleasures. It's time to get each level of our government back to basics and get out of the charity, give aways and nice to have special interest entities. I can remember a time when Churches and charities were the ones to turn to in time of need. Now it seems like everyone wants the government to do it and it's five times more costly as a result and only half as helpful. If we keep going like we have been we'll be socialist and will also be half way down the road to communist. No thanks, I'll do it myself mom.