INSIDER QUESTION: TIME TO CUT BACK KANSAS CITY 1% FOR THE ARTS?!?!



Lost in all the debate over the current Kansas City development agenda is a subsidy that might have outlived its usefulness according to many local insiders.

Here's the sitch:

"The bigger story is the 1% for art slush fund from the $800 million Go Bond issue. This was never discussed. That is $8 million dollars. Think about it: Do we really need art for sidewalks. Do we need art for flood control projects? Let's talk about the new airport and what could potentially cost 1% of $1.2 billion. This has gotten totally out of hand."

Most residents are unaware of Kansas City's 1% for the arts levy and so here's a brief explanation from a KCMO document:

"Kansas City was the first city in Missouri (and one of the first in the nation) to pass a resolution supporting public art in 1970. The program established a set-aside funding stream of one percent of each city building construction project’s budget for the creation of original art, which is usually tied to the building itself.

"With the success of the program, another resolution was passed in 1981 and eventually the program was unanimously codified by the City Council in 1986 with the passage of Ordinance 60321- validating and further affirming the City’s commitment to arts and culture."

And so, with infrastructure needs growing and bigger projects coming up for a vote . . . There's renewed interest in KCMO taxpayers literally financing the 1% with cash intended for infrastructure.

Developing . . .

Comments

  1. Slush fund is right.

    It's one of many in Kansas City right now. What's worse is that there is little recourse for the average voter. They won't let people vote on the hotel or the streetcar.

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    1. 20 Million for art in the new airport? I would settle for nicer restrooms!

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  2. The percentage for TIF is 20% of the GO bond money. After city hall gives away a percentage or two to every special interest their won't be any for projects.

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  3. So what? I support art. Especially when YOU pay for it. Now go fund something else to be offended at.

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  4. . Only a select few get to go to the party so party on....

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  5. That ten story tall statue of Sly at the entrance to the airport is going to cost way more than that!
    Maybe have to add a Go Fund Me page.
    What pieces of art are the taxpayers going to get as part of their $37 million contribution to Mike's hotel?
    The trough just keeps getting refilled, so come on down to 12th and Oak!

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  6. The next thing, the gays will want their 1%. The all the anti-crime organizations that don't do anything. The next thing you know, there won't be anything for Sly and the city council members to steal.

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  7. Questioning 1% for Arts is legitimate, but Tony's claim that sidewalk and flood control projects have such requirements are not legitimate, the 1% for arts applies to buildings, not all capital projects the City undertakes.

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  8. The city council meeting yesterday they were talking about $8 million for the arts. Ask your city councilperson. See what they say.

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  9. I would like to see a public vote on this. That would be the last of our tax funds going for the arts.

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  10. The city council made an allocation of $445,000 to the arts fund, that is 1% of the $44.5 million bond sale for next year. Check kcmo.gov city clerk, video on demand. They all kinds of roads, sidewalks, flood control projects, etc

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  11. @2:24pm
    If only the council spent money in strict compliance with the ordinances it passes to specify expenditures, your observations would be entirely correct.
    But time after time money is moved around from one account to another, mostly based on who the loudest and most demanding insider is pulling their strings.
    PIAC money is supposed to be spent on infrastructure maintenance and repair, but Reed contributed $500,000 of the Third District's PIAC account for a streetcar STUDY, which involved neither maintenance or repair of anything.
    And the Star just reported that the recently concluded 18th and Vine Jazz Festival stiffed performers and vendors and KCMO government ended up ponying up $117,000.
    Where did that money come from?

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  12. Where's the kcstar article??

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  13. 1% for arts. Like the hair curlers? No thanks, faggots.

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  14. REMBER the MILLIONS spent on the AIRPORT FLOOR. Will that be torn out when we get the new airport of will it be salvaged?

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  15. What about that unfinished I beam ART that has water washing over it occasionally at the airport. will that ever be finished ?

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  16. The Arts are the only real thing KC has going that attracts and keeps young people here! Absent the Arts KC would be Appalachia!!

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  17. It only benefits the same old names, the same old elite class of people and corporations that treat their workers like garbage:
    Victor E. Speas Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, DST Systems, Inc., Estelle S. and Robert A. Long Ellis Foundation, Ever Glades Fund, J. Scott Francis/Francis Family Discretionary Fund, Hall Family Foundation, Lighton Fund, J.P. Morgan, Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, The Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Art, The Kemper Family, James M. and Gretchen B. Gearin Fund, Joan Horan.

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