By Lina Garcia, Americans for the Arts
November 22, 2004

Following the 2004 elections at the local level, there was much good news for the arts. Americans for the Arts closely tracked 13 ballot initiatives with a direct impact on the arts in cities across the country. Of these 13 local ballots, 11 passed convincingly nationwide.

Local Ballot Initiatives Impacting the Arts:

Denver Metro SCFD Initiative: Passed with 65 percent of the vote on average in all seven counties. Reauthorizes the 0.01 percent retail sales tax that funds the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), a program that has distributed more than $400 million to arts and science groups since 1988. SCFD generates more than $30 million each year to support over 300 local cultural organizations.

Grand Junction Ballot Issue 5T: Passed with 89 percent of the vote. Extends the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) that was to expire in 2006. The diversion of those funds could mean up to $18 million in bonding ability for the Downtown Development Authority and expanded what the funds could be used for to includeimprovements to streets, parks plazas, structures, and the potential relocation of the Western Colorado Center for the Arts.

Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond Question 8 Initiative: Passed with 66 percent of the vote. Issues bonds to construct and improve libraries, cultural facilities, and Head Start learning centers for preschool children and to offer multicultural educational opportunities and activities. This is one of eight issues that was part of the General Obligation Bond 2004 (GOB), which will divide almost $3 billion among a wide variety of programs over the next 30 years. It will cost taxpayers an average of about $20 per person per year.

Pinellas County Initiative: Passed with 64 percent of the vote. Increases teachers' salaries and supports activities for the visual and performing arts in schools. This will allow the string program to be added back into Pinellas County schools.

Boone County Tax referendum for arts/museums: Passed with 57 percent of the vote. Allows power to levy a tax not to exceed .02 percent of the value of taxable property that will go to the County Historical District for arts and museums.

Baltimore City Question P Bond Issue: Passed with 74 percent of the vote. Authorizes the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $500,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property and the construction, improvement, and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be used by or in connection with the Walters Art Museum.

Baltimore City Question Q Bond Issue: Passed with 76 percent of the vote. Authorizes the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to borrow up to $500,000 to be used for the acquisition of land or property and the construction, renovation, and repair of buildings, structures, or facilities to be used by or in connection with the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Prince George's County Question D: Passed with 74 percent of the vote. Enables the county to borrow money and issue bonds in an amount not exceeding $11,780,000. Will give the opportunity to fund a performing arts center for the Thomas G. Pullen K-8 School for the Performing Arts. Pullen School serves more than 800 children from across the entire county studying violin, cello, dance, poetry, chorus, band, orchestra, computer art, and the visual arts.

Kansas City Initiative: Failed with approval from only one out of five counties (the measure needed support from three counties to pass). Residents of five Missouri and Kansas counties were asked to approve a one-fourth of one cent retail sales tax that, over 12 to 15 years, would have raised $500 million to $600 million for arts' and sports'building projects. During the first four years of the tax, $12.5 million would be allocated annually to building a Kansas City Performing Arts Center; another large portion would be used for regional and local arts programs.

Billings Initiative: Failed with 38 percent of the vote. Would have boosted funding for museums and cultural organizations in Yellowstone County. This is the fourth time in the past eight years that cultural organizations have tried to increase property taxes to support museums and cultural programs. (The measure would have raised approximately $600,000 a year for organizations such as the Alberta Bair Theater, the Billings Symphony Orchestra, and an umbrella group for local nonprofits.)

Salt Lake County Initiative: Passed with 71 percent of the vote. Re-authorizes the Zoo, Arts & Parks program. This is a county sales tax (one-tenth of one percent) dedicated to funding recreational facilities, the zoo, and cultural organizations. This tax generates about $15 million per year for distribution.

Tooele City Proposal 1: Passed with 57 percent of the vote. Increases the sales tax by one-tenth of one percent to fund expansion of existing parks and, eventually, the creation of new parks throughout the city. The tax will bring in about $300,000 a year and will boost the sales tax in the city from 6.25 percent to 6.35 percent, still below Salt Lake County's rate. In addition to the park in northeast Tooele, the money will be used for other parks and arts funding in the city, at the council's discretion.

Loudoun County, VA, Initiative: Passed with 58 percent of the vote. Issues General Obligation bonds in the maximum amount of $15,430,000 to finance, in whole or in part, the cost to design, construct, and equip the Franklin Park Performing Arts Center (approximately $1.4 million).