By Lina Garcia, Americans for the Arts
November 20, 2006

While the 2006 mid-term elections predominantly attracted voters interested in voicing their concerns about national issues, thousands of voters turned out to support critical local ballot measures that had a direct impact on the arts. Numerous local ballot measures across the country, passed overwhelmingly, many with well over 50 percent of the vote. Cities with local arts ballot measures include Akron (OH); Austin (TX); Portland (OR); and San Francisco (CA).

These local and state measures will infuse millions of dollars for arts education programs in local schools and increased funding for cultural facilities and general operating support for nonprofit arts organizations.

Passed with 51 percent of the vote. In Akron, Issue 6 called for a $7.9 million levy to raise nearly $23.6 million a year for operational costs in public schools. As proposed by the ballot, the funds raised for the levy will be paid by homeowners of property worth more than $100,000 who will now pay $242 annually in taxes. Following the failure of a similar levy proposed in May 2005, the school board cut about $7.3 million out of the school district’s budget. The reductions lead to the elimination of more than 100 jobs; foreign language programs in elementary and middle schools; instrumental music programs in elementary schools; and freshman and middle-school sports. Through this new levy proposal, the district hopes to reverse previous cuts to school programs, including freshman and middle school sports, middle school foreign language, and elementary school instrumental music. The last time voters approved additional operating fees that would benefit schools was in November 2001.

Passed with 55 percent of the vote. Proposition 4 will provide a total of $31.5 million in funding for various community and cultural facilities throughout the city including: a 500-seat theater to replace the 230-seat Zachary Scott Theatre; an African-American Cultural and Heritage Facility; an Asian-American Resource Center; renovation of the Austin Film Studios; improvements to the Mexican-American Cultural Center; and a contribution towards a new Mexic-Arte Art Museum. Investments in cultural institutions will benefit Austin, not only in terms of culture, diversity, resources, tourism, and activities, but also economically. Creative industries in Austin, currently infuse hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy and create thousands of jobs. The last time cultural projects were proposed in a bond package in Austin, was in 1994 to help expand the Carver Museum and Cultural Center and to build a Mexican-American Cultural Center, which were both voted down. It took another four years to get them back on the ballot and approved. Austin Mayor Will Wynn was a strong advocate of this measure.

Passed with 82 percent of the vote. Voters overwhelmingly passed a five-year local option property tax that will provide a massive infusion of funds to the Portland Public School District. The funds will raise $33 million in the first year, and a total of $185 million by its final year. The school district, Oregon’s largest at roughly 47,000 students, will utilize the funds to boost music, art and physical education programs. The cost to property owners will be $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $250 a year for a house assessed at $200,000.

Passed with 74 percent of the vote. Voters overwhelmingly approved Measure A, a $450 million bond, that is the largest bond request in the Bay Area affecting city’s schools. Measure A will pay for building improvements to schools in numerous school districts. These include: a new elevator at Wallenberg High; electrical upgrades at Cleveland Elementary; and new drinking fountains at district headquarters. Most notable will be renovations to historic 135 Van Ness Ave., the future home of School of the Arts. Property owners will be asked to pay up to $33 per $100,000 of assessed value to pay off the bond.