June 12, 2010: The
adjustments to the FY 2010 and FY 2011 budget signed by Governor Lynch
last week leaves the NH Film and TV Office intact and only includes a
$45,000 cut to the State Arts Council. These cuts are significant but
manageable in these challenging economic times.
Being in touch with our legislators is important. If you
contacted your legislators in reference to arts funding, please thank
them now for their hard work. Please also thank Representative
Marjorie Smith and Senator Sylvia Larsen for their steadfast support of
the arts.
Save the Date: June 24, 10-11:30 am: Michael Kaiser speaks at the
Capitol Center for the Arts on the Kennedy Center's nationwide
initiative to help arts organizations tackle financial crisis and
management. Tickets are free but registration required. Reserve seats for Michael Kaiser. Sponsored by Capitol Center for the Arts, Arts Presenters of Northern New England (APNNE) and the NH Department of Cultural Resources.
John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts President Michael M. Kaiser
will visit the Capitol Center for the Arts for a symposium on the
challenges facing non-profit performing arts organizations in such
areas as fundraising, building more effective boards of trustees,
budgeting, and marketing.
Additional Information:
This
free event is hosted by the Capitol Center, the New Hampshire
Department of Cultural Resources and Arts Presenters of Northern New
England (APNNE). APNNE will host a continental breakfast reception
beginning at 9:15 a.m. for all ticket holders. The symposium will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Registration is required. Tickets may be reserved on the Capitol Center for the Arts website.
Kaiser is the author of The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations. All arts administrators, artistic directors, board members and arts leaders are encouraged to attend this event.
On Wednesday, May 12,
the NH House voted 182 to 173 (a 9-vote margin) to pass the budget
reconciliation bill for the upcoming FY 2011. This retained the budget
figures for the State Arts Council and the NH Film Office that NH Citizens for
the Arts had quietly advocated for among the legislative
leadership.
In a major
development Friday morning, May 14, the NH Senate killed the House
reconciliation bill and passed its own bill (HB 1128). The line items for
the arts remained as in the House bill.
Although the
Department of Cultural Resources, including the Arts Council and Film Office,
sustained cuts in line with other agencies (about 8%), this outcome looks to be
as good as we could anticipate in this difficult economic climate. Our
strategy of keeping under the radar has so far proved
wise.
UPCOMING:
The budget debate is
not over yet. The budget bill (now HB 1128) will be considered by the
House on Wednesday, June 19. The House has to make one of three
recommendations; it can concur with the Senate and pass HB 1128 as amended by
the Senate, it can reject the changes and kill HB 1128, or it can ask for a
committee of conference where House and Senate members attempt to reach a
compromise. We cannot predict what the House may
do.
We will continue to
monitor the process, which wraps up by June 3 if all goes normally.
Keeping quiet remains the best strategy, until we let you know
otherwise.
IN THE
FUTURE:
Next year’s Biennial
Budget (FY 2012-13) will be even more challenging for several reasons. The state
deficit will be greater and certain revenue sources, such as federal stimulus
funds, will disappear. Our strategy for next year will include more active
public advocacy. We will work on a plan over the
summer.
The fall elections
could change the make-up of the NH legislature, as well as our Federal
delegation.
NHCFA hopes to present a candidate forum in October and
we welcome volunteer help.
Thank you. Your
membership supports our work on behalf of New Hampshire’s arts community.
Please visit www.nhcfa.org
and contribute today!
New
Hampshire Citizens for the Arts is closely monitoring the State Budget process,
and we are able to provide you with the following up-to-date information:
The
Governor’s budget for FY11 proposed cuts to the Department of
Cultural Resources (DCR) of approximately $247,000, which includes a
$10,000 cut to the NH Film and TV office, and a $45,000 cut to the State Arts
Council. These cuts are significant but manageable, according to DCR
Commissioner Van McLeod. However, further cuts to the DCR could be
devastating to the department.
The
cultural community recognizes that all state departments must share in the cuts
during this most challenging economic time, and we believe the cuts to the DCR as
proposed by the Governor represent a fair and reasonable contribution to the
effort.
The
State Budget process will be making its way through the Legislature over the
next several weeks. We will continue to follow the situation carefully,
and will let you know if we need to take further action. Watching and
waiting appears to be our best strategy for the moment. We recommend
that you do not contact your State Legislators at this time.
Thank
you for your support of state funding for these important agencies, both of
which are successful engines for economic development, social health, and
quality of life in our communities.
Senate Budget Hearings should be mid-to-late-April. Dates and locations will be posted as available.
WHERE WE ARE NOW:
The Governor’s Office and the Legislature are working on budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2011, which begins on July 1, in order to balance the budget.(Cuts already made to the current FY budget have been absorbed across state government.)
The House tabled its budget bill, HB1664, which would have eliminated all Arts Council Grants and the NH Film Office.HB 1664 could be revived, or it could be picked up by the Conference Committee in late May.
The Governor should announce his budget cuts between April 8 and 12. When he does, we will post numbers and alert you to our position. We expect that that the Governor’s budget will be better for the Arts than the House’s tabled version.
The Senate Finance Committee is now working on its revised budget.We have no figures yet.It is time to contact Senate Finance Committee members and to talk to your own Senator (see lists below). At this time, our message is the value of the Arts (see Talking Points below).
Senate Finance Committee Budget Hearings are expected in mid-late April. We will needvolunteers to appear and speak up at hearings, and we will alert you of times and locations and how to testify.
An amended budget must be passed in both Houses by June 2, 2010.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
-Contact your State Senator and let him or her know that you value the arts (see Senate Roster below), the State’s support of the arts, and the work of the State Arts Council.Offer personal and local stories about the vital importance of the arts in creating jobs, stimulating the state and local economy, and enhancing revenues.
-You may want to express your appreciation for their difficult work and acknowledge that that some cuts across State government are necessary.However, argue for fair and reasonable cuts for the Arts Council, not cuts that eliminate all funding.
-Briefly, tell your own story about how the Arts Council has helped you, your business and your community.(Talking Points are below.) -The most effective contacts are personal:phone calls, meetings, and original letters or postcards.Next best are personalized emails.Avoid form letters or emails.
-Please share this Alert with other arts supporters, especially business and community leaders and Board members of organizations that you may be involved with.
THE POSITION OF THE NH CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS ON REVENUES:
NH Citizens for the Arts has not taken a stand on the very political and difficult issues of particular revenue sources—whether taxes, fees, or other initiatives. However, if an “Entertainment” or “Ticket” tax were proposed, NHCFA would oppose it, especially if it includes a tax on NONPROFIT theater and museum tickets.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the arts in New Hampshire!From the Board of Directors of NH Citizens for the Arts (NHCFA)
SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS:
Advocate for State Funding of the Arts for THE STATE ARTS COUNCIL (known in the budget as The Division of the Arts), and THE FILM AND TV OFFICE(both within the Department of Cultural Resources).
We recognize budget cuts are necessary in all departments to balance the state budget.
We ask politely that any cuts be reasonable and fair.
The economy and jobs should be considered:The arts are economic engines and create jobs.
Both the Arts Council and the Film Office bring money into the State, through matching funds and private investment and support.
Include personal stories about how the arts affect your life:
The arts stimulate and drive the economies of our towns and cities.Jobs, livelihoods, and healthy communities are at stake.
Arts programs and institutions are essential to vibrant downtowns and rural towns.They bring money into the state by attracting tourism and business, and stimulate the hospitality industry.
Arts programs in our schools, supported by the State Arts Council, lead to jobs and help young people learn and enhance their success in other subjects.
Describe how you, or your organization or school, count on Arts Council programs or grants.Talk about how loss of arts programs will affect your community and region and its economy.What jobs would be lost?
Contributions to organizations are down.The State’s “seal of approval” through modest grants leverages matching private funds.If the State makes a statement against the arts, it will hurt fundraising efforts at a very tough time. It is counterproductive to cut the arts now, when cultural organizations are hanging on by their fingertips.
People need the arts more than ever in hard times.
PLEASE ACT NOW.CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR.Be brief and polite.Remember that they are working hard to balance the State budget.
SENATE ROSTER (* indicates members of the Senate Finance Committee)
District
Name and Address
Contact Information
01
John Gallus*
292 Prospect Street
Berlin, NH 03570-2137
(H) (603)752-1066
(O) (603)271-3077
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Stay tuned and check here regularly for news thoughout spring 2010.
If you would like to join the Alert List and have email alerts sent directly to you, as news happens, please join NH Citizens for the Arts -- see our membership page -- and send us your email address, or use "Contact us." (Watch for Alerts issued from the Devine-Millimet firm.)
As of Wed, March 24, NH House has voted 212 to 151 to table House Bill 1664, the current budget-cut bill.
For the moment, this means that the House will send no bill to make significant cuts in the budget over to the Senate before Crossover on Mar 25. They will take more time.
Tabling the budget-cuttingbill will give the House more time to consider what Department Heads propose for cuts. That could be good for our cause.
The legislature still has to cut the state budget, but that will happen now in April, possibly by May 6 or 13 (when the House and Senate finish work and everything goes to Conference Committee).
The Senate will not publish their calendar until Friday, March 26. Next week we will start to get an idea when Senate Finance will meet (now, without specific budget cuts from the House) and when any Senate hearings will be.
This is not over, and today’s vote should not be described as a “win,” because cuts will still come and we don’t know in what form.
When the House makes decisions about cuts and has a new budget proposal (or they could resurrect this one), they will take it “off the table” and pass it. Other procedures will happen, and we are told that, “It will take a simple majority to take it off the table but 2/3 vote to waive the rules to act on the bill.”
Please hold off and do NOT contact NH Senators yet, until we know what proposals are being considered, both from the House and the Senate’s own bill.
Thank you for your efforts and contacts, which have been crucial and effective!
From the Board of Directors, NH Citizens for the Arts