Viewpoints
City Council Community Agency
Funding
By Kathleen Light
December 15, 2009
Tuesday AM
Dear Arts Supporters
Last Thursday night the City Council decided to cut funding to
the community agencies by 50% (except the Ketchikan Visitors
Bureau). That, of course, includes the Arts Council.
This decision is not final, they have two more meetings in which
to change their minds and choose to support the organizations
that support your community Dec. 15th and Dec. 17th.
At this point it is imperative to apply pressure on the Council
members. This means phone calls and personal conversations.
When you see a Council member in the grocery store ask them
what they thought of the letter you sent them. Begin a dialogue
about what cuts to the community agencies will mean for you.
Call them on the phone, have coffee with them. Help them to
understand!
Don't let the City Council think the community agencies are not
essential to Ketchikan!
Remember to fully fund the community agencies at the current
level the City will be spending 0.3% of their overall budget.
Let me say that again, if the City funds the community agencies
at the same level as last year, they will be spending LESS
than half of one percent of their budget. One more time
if the City spends the same amount in 2010 as it did in
2009 to the community agencies they will be spending $440,000
of their $154,961,381 budget.
In other words, by cutting the community agencies by 50% they
will be cutting $240,000 from their overall budget.
Now, think about what these agencies give to your community for
the amount of funding they receive, and the benefit to the economy
and quality of life they represent.
Can you afford to let your City Council make this mistake?
Kathleen Light
Ketchikan, AK
About: Executive Director Ketchikan
Area Arts and Humanities Council
Contact Information
Mayor and City Council
http://www.city.ketchikan.ak.us/mayor/contact.html
Received December 11, 2009 - Published December 15, 2009
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