Finance Committe Meeting Summaries
SUMMARY: INTERIM FINANCE COMMITTEE
TOWN HALL MEETING-RENO
FEBRUARY 13, 2010
The legislative Town Hall Meeting in Reno is now history and the media will have various highlights throughout the weekend. We've heard from our colleagues in Las Vegas, where messages were clearly delivered and heard as well. Protocol in Las Vegas was different. Unlike Reno, no signage was allowed in Las Vegas, nor were buttons, pins and other identification forms on individuals.
The Reno hearing room was standing room only, and the overflow area was crowded as well. Applause was plentiful in the hearing room for many speakers and topics (including the arts), but especially for folks who said they would gladly pay additional taxes to help keep Nevada a livable state. Repeated pleas for finding new sources of revenue were also met with boisterous applause, both in the hearing and overflow rooms. Many of the Reno speakers were there to advocate for teachers and education, maintenance of Medicaid and other health benefits for seniors, the mentally disadvantaged, children and others.
Our hearing was scheduled from 9 to noon, but went an extra hour until 1:00 p.m. Ironically, Susan Boskoff was the last to speak (she was speaker #89); she beautifully summarized the position of the arts and culture folks who went before while acknowledging the legislators' difficult tasks ahead.
Some of our testimony was changed just moments before the speakers took the podium, due to new information. For example, some reports indicate that state agencies with smaller budgets will be targeted; this allowed us to insert comments about the NAC's shoestring budget and its effectiveness and efficiency. Some on the dais seemed genuinely surprised when they heard the NAC took a deep 43% cut in the last legislative session. A dozen or more speakers addressed the value of the Nevada Arts Council directly, focusing on different angles of support. Those included strong and passionate statements regarding:
the arts as a primary driver of economic diversification and a strong indicator for businesses hoping to relocate or invest start-up dollars in Nevada.
the arts as a reason for a successful restaurant owner just across the street to apply for and receive a small business loan to expand his business--the future success of which is based on continued arts activity
the arts as a strong and positive link to all areas of health for children, seniors and the physically and mentally disadvantaged, (this element will be emphasized during Special Session testimony)
the arts as a reason for Reno's youth to come together under the umbrella of The Holland Project for music, visual arts, performance art and activism.
the arts as a solid rationale for investing heavily in cultural tourism throughout the state.
As one person explained, the arts are not a single entity apart from society, but rather part of the fabric of life in Nevada--woven into every aspect of education, health and welfare, economic development, and quality of life.
In her email this afternoon, Susan Boskoff indicated that this communication with our elected officials must continue up to and through the Special Session. It begins February 23 and may last several days. Public testimony will be encouraged and allowed; however, they will be able to exert greater control over the time and content. For example, nobody on the dais cautioned against repetition today--as we were earlier advised to avoid. Fortunately, we were prepared with solid statements addressing the above areas. Thanks to all in northern Nevada for making today a truly coordinated effort on behalf of our arts and culture industry.
Tim Jones
Chair, Nevada Arts Council
SUMMARY: INTERIM FINANCE COMMITTEE
TOWN HALL MEETING-LAS VEGAS
FEBRUARY 13, 2010
I thought we did very well at the legislative hearing this morning. We had at least six speakers for the arts in a sea of teachers, but many of the teachers who spoke were arts teachers, so the messages blended well. We consulted before the hearing, and I don't think we duplicated our messages. I spoke first and talked about what Winchester's grant means to what we do and the large number of seniors who depend on our programs. I noted that we pay all the grant money to artists, 90% of whom live in the Las Vegas Valley. I pointed out the severity of the cuts to the Nevada Arts Council (NAC) so far. I explained that Nevada's money is matched both by the federal government and by grant recipients, so that it goes a long way.
I know Barbara Good (an NAC board member and educator) spoke about the importance of arts education. Art Wolfe spoke for the entire Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, and gave the legislators a few amusing pokes, noting that many of them are now term-limited, so they should be able to vote their consciences, and in reference to the governor's suggestion of sending gift cards to teachers, Art said he has gift cards for the legislators.
Steve Caplan (NAC’s newest board member, musician and educator) made a beautifully composed plea that the prior 43% cut be considered sufficient, backing that up with a list of ways in which NAC money is spent in Las Vegas and how much it means to his children.
Suzanne Hackett-Morgan spoke as a painter and the administrator of a large and growing arts organization, Goldwell Open Air Museum; in other words she spoke as a small businessperson. She explained how NAC planning assistance and a small initial grant enabled her to expand Goldwell from its $4,000 annual budget to an organization with an employee and--I think she said--a $60,000 budget. She also pointed out that the Nevada town of Jarbidge, with a population of twelve, supports its own arts council.
Patrick Gaffey
Las Vegas
