Effort to Withhold Funds Fails

Arts groups that in July were promised city grants of $175,000 will receive the money as scheduled, despite an attempt to withhold it while the city re-evaluates its budget.

Councilwoman Sandra L. Genis, a longtime opponent of arts funding who believes the money should go to social service agencies instead, had asked that the grants be reconsidered while City Manager Allan L. Roeder takes a closer look at city spending. But her motion failed to pass at a council meeting Tuesday night.

“We could be in real hot water,” Genis said. “We could potentially be facing some very serious cutbacks that could involve cutting back city employees. This could be $175,000 that we could use for police services and fire services and other things.”

Mayor Mary Hornbuckle said, however, that the city should follow through on promises made to the arts groups.

“I know that a number of these organizations depend on the city, and it would be a disservice not to do as we promised,” Hornbuckle said.

Roeder has asked each city department to come up with plans to cut 3.5% of the budget, or $1.6 million, this fiscal year and 8.3%, or $3.8 million, next year. However, he has said the city does not expect to cut services this year.