Funds From Arts Council Staff Cuts Set for Minority Programs

In response to pressure from a key Democratic leader, a joint state legislative conference committee has voted to eliminate two staff positions from the California Arts Council, designating those funds to ethnic-minority programs.

Late last month, Assembly Speaker Pro-Tem Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles), a long-time arts supporter, charged that the council’s administration was “bloated at the gills.” Later, an Assembly subcommittee on which Roos sits voted to recommend eliminating three council staff positions.

The conference committee also adopted a recommendation of the Assembly subcommittee on which Roos sits to increase the council’s $14.5-million budget for 1988-89 by $3.9 million. Gov. George Deukmejian has proposed increasing that budget by $1.1 million. The fiscal year begins July 1.

The staff cuts, which would funnel about $100,000 to ethnic-minority arts programs, could mean “a dramatic reduction in our effort to serve the field,” said council director Robert Reid, who has disputed Roos’ claims of administrative overspending. While grant giving probably will not be affected, the action could curtail such administrative services as technical assistance to ethnic-minority arts groups, community outreach within Southern California and private/public fund-raising efforts, he said.

Said council member Joanne Kozberg, vice chair, Music Center Board of Governors: “Having seen how hard California Arts Council staff members work, I’m sorry that the Legislature saw fit to cut those positions.”

According to the National Assembly for State Arts Agencies, the council’s $2.7-million administrative budget is about 4% higher than the national average.

Roos’ attack on the council’s administration was sparked by the rejection of a grant application made by the Los Angeles-based Armenian Film Foundation. The conference committee on Friday rejected a Senate subcommittee vote to add a $44,000 line item for the foundation to the council’s 1988-89 budget.

Reid said he would announce which two staffers would lose their jobs after the 1988-1989 budget is passed. They will, however, be two of three special assistants to Reid.