There has been much discussion lately about the donations that the City makes. There are typically two kinds of donations: Arts and Humanities. First a little background:
City: In the City, there is a spreadsheet that contains all of the organizations that apply. As a part of the process, each org. fills out an application, goes to a meeting to cover the grants process and they attend a Council meeting where they make their pitch. Their data is then presented to a subcommittee that weighs all of the applications and decides at what level (if any, not everyone is succesful) to fund the applications. This is a decision of the Council. I like the fact that the Council is directly responsible for this decision.
County: I’m not very familiar with the process in the County but the “Arts” side of the process is handled by the PWC Arts Commission (might have the name wrong). I’m not sure how they handle the humanitarian side but my impression is that it is typically handled by the individual Supervisors through their “Discretionary Fund” (Council members don’t have these).
For my part, I’ve struggled with these. It’s easy to rail against the “Arts” side but the Christmas and St. Patricks parade are under that side. There’s some good stuff in there and I’m not voting against the parades friends. I’m not wild about some of the humanities either – some are quite large organizations but some are large organizations who use that increment of funding to do something in our community. I’ve kinda made an uneasy peace with it but I do believe that some further changes need to be made to the process. Oh, one last thing, the funding level for the entire batch of requests has remained at about $200k.
Now, I have a single additional ground rule for this post: this is a philosophical debate. If you rail against anyone in particular (except me) I’ll delete your post – I’m going to have a hair trigger on this one. ALSO!! I will need to ask your forgiveness as I don’t have the list of applicants in electronic format. I know that might help but I just don’t have it – it’s hundreds of pages and I don’t have the time to scan it. It’s a HUGE business week for me and I’m busting my ass…..
March 24, 2011 at 8:54 pm
I sort of see this debate the same way I see it on a National level. There are many members of Congress who say they support cutting spending, but when it comes to specific ideas or areas, it’s like trying to catch a greased pig. Suddenly these same people can’t or won’t provide any specifics, or, they say don’t pay attention to the little stuff, because that’s not really where the spending issue is at. And, in the end spending does not get cut. Now, common sense tells us that when it comes to Government at any level there is waste, and nobody can say every penny spent by the Federal, State or even local Government is free of waste.
I supported giving some money to Civil War Manassas, but cannot support the additional funding being requested. As a history nut I love to see this aspect of our history taking center stage. However, as a taxpayer I see the different side, and know much can be done without government support.
Spending wisely should always be at the heart of Government, but during these lean economic times, it’s even more important to do so.
March 24, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Fair Enough, thanks for your input, COM.
March 24, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Andy,
You are welcome. Just my two cents worth…
March 24, 2011 at 9:55 pm
To clarify the PWC funding process.
For arts funding the BOCS sets a line item in their budget for arts funding. This amount is transferred to the Park Authority to administer. The PWCPA establishes a grants review panel that is independent of the PWC Arts Council. FYI, I chair the PWC Arts Council. Most years I can’t even name more than two of the panelists. The panel reviews the grants applications, scores them and make funding recommendations to the PWCPA. The PWCPA makes the final determination and awards. The PWC Arts Council is totally out of the process.
On the humanities side I believe that PWC administers most of those funds via contracts with the receiving agency.
And yes, each member of the BOCS has a discretionary fund. Not to mention a staff!
March 25, 2011 at 8:31 am
Thanks Mark and the rest of the PWC Arts Council for voting that individual writers may now become “individual artist” members of the PW Arts Council. At the Arts Alive 2011 event on April 30 at Connaughton Plaza, there’s now going to be tables set up for writer/PWC Arts Council members to take part by showing their books and networking with other writers. It’s like we know there are plenty of us in Manassas, Manassas Park and PWC – we just haven’t had an organized way to network and share information locally other than library-sponsored groups or other small groups. I started a group 20+ years ago that started out at the Center for the Arts when it was in the brown house on Grant Ave next to Comptons, and still wanders like nomads looking for meeting space. It’s currently parked at Trinity Episcopal Church two Tuesday evenings a month.
Hypothetically, then, could a group of writers, under the PWC Arts Council’s 501(c)3, petition for City grant money to host a Manassas city fall writers retreat at the Old Courthouse? A spring book festival at the Candy Factory? A summer writers conference at the Manassas Museum? These are all things I’ve wanted to do but didn’t have 501(c)3 to apply for grant money.
March 25, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Cindy- The PWCAC is not a 501c3 and would not be the vehicle for requesting City (or County) monies. Typically it is required to be a 501c3 organization (not individual) to receive any type of government arts support.
What you might want to do is to “sell” your idea to HMI (Hylton?) or a similar organization and see if they would consider including it in their list of events.
March 25, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Thanks, Mark.
March 31, 2011 at 9:30 pm
adding to the County Process – each and every nonprofit will have an MOU with the County. I have a copy of the draft one. The BOCS last year during Budget Season directed there be set in place some form of an agreement; hence the MOU.
March 31, 2011 at 9:31 pm
P.S. Note the Governor in his admendments is slashing support for Public Broadcasting.
March 31, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Saw that…
April 2, 2011 at 4:24 pm
A bit of history (borrowed from PWC Budget website) on the GMU Hylton Center for Performing Arts – in case anyone is interested. Although mostly County info, it does give some background as to our City’s share of cost:
“At their October 26, 2004 meeting, the Board of County Supervisors approved the
agreement for the construction and operation of the Prince William County/
Manassas/George Mason University Performing Arts Center, now known as the
Hylton Performing Arts Center (Resolution No. 04-1035). The resolution
identified design, construction and debt service costs of $36 million, with Prince
William County responsible for 60%. The County began budgeting $1.6 million
toward the debt service payment in FY 09; a total of $8 million ($1.6 million each
year) was included in the Five Year Plan (FY 09 – FY 13).
During the development of the 2011 Fiscal Plan, the Performing Arts Center staff
informed the County and the City of Manassas that $4 million in supplemental
debt had been issued, and they requested an increased payment based on the
previously agreed upon split – 60% County, 30% George Mason, 10% Manassas.
This request would increase the County’s annual payment to $1.9 million, with a
$1.5 million increase in the Five Year Plan (an additional $300,000 per year).
The Board of County Supervisors agreed to that request with the adoption of the
FY 2011 Fiscal Plan on April 27, 2010 (Resolution No. 10-343). That resolution
also moved $2 million that had previously be appropriated for the Performing
Arts Center (in FY 09 and FY 10) but not spent, back to the General Fund
In July 2003 the Board of County Supervisors approved a contribution of
$450,000 toward completing the 35% design documents for the Performing Arts
Center; George Mason contributed $250,000 and the City of Manassas
contributed $200,000. The Board of County Supervisors also agreed to provide
$200,000 to the Center in both FY 11 and FY 12 for other capital improvements;
this is reflected in the adopted 2011 Fiscal Plan and the Proposed FY 2012
Budget. The only funding included in FY 13 through FY 30 is the annual debt
service payment ($1.6M/year, $8M total in the Five Year Plan).”