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Public Art Program Targeted For Freeze In Funding, Cuts

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By MIKE SALINERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 11, 2008

TAMPA - A program that puts sculptures and paintings in public settings is once again being targeted by Hillsborough County budget cutters.

Two years ago, the county commission cut $500,000 from the county's public art program to reduce property taxes. Now, a county official is suggesting cutting the public art budget by nearly $700,000, leaving only about $850,000 to last for the next three years.

The program places art in front of county buildings or other public spaces. Money for the sculptures, murals or other works of art comes by adding 1 percent to the cost of any new county government building.

Last year, a statue called Lady Justice was unveiled in front of the county courthouse, and in January, a bronze likeness of the county's first black judge was installed at the courthouse.

The arts program received about $2.3 million this year. Money already appropriated - slightly more than $700,000 - will go toward projects at the Museum of Science and Industry and at the South Shore Regional Library, as well as restoring and maintaining existing artwork.

But Mike Kelly, director of the county real estate department, is proposing ending funding for public arts projects for three years. He also wants to return nearly $700,000 that hasn't yet been allocated from the program to the county's general revenue fund.

On Thursday, Kelly told members of the Public Art Committee the program should do its part to reduce an $87 million shortfall in the county budget.

"The county administrator and the commission have been pressuring staff to look at different efficiencies as part of the budget process," Kelly said after the meeting.

If the County Commission approves Kelly's plan, the public art program would be crippled but not dead. Giving almost $700,000 back to the general fund would represent a 45 percent cut in money the public art committee had left for projects this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

"I definitely don't think it kills the program," said committee member Jim Porter. "I don't think the commission wants to kill it, either. I think they just want to make it more efficient and fiscally responsible, which is our goal as well."

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss the cuts at a budget workshop Thursday. Commissioner Rose Ferlita said she opposes cutting the program's budget now when the commission is set to consider a revised public art ordinance in November.

If that ordinance is approved, it would cut the assessment that funds the program from 1 percent to 0.5 percent per county construction project. The ordinance also would lower the maximum assessment per building from $200,000 to $150,000.

"I love art, but it has to be cut some - not frozen, but cut," Ferlita said. "This would put it in the budget mix when there is a plan in place and there is a date and there is a focus at looking at this ordinance in November."

On Thursday, the Public Art Committee looked at conceptual pictures of the three top-rated artworks vying for the MOSI project.

One is a sculpture of a fructose molecule big enough for children to play on. The other proposed projects are a working sundial with which visitors can tell time using their shadows, and a giant squid with a projector in its head for children to see the creature's undersea environment.

"I'm frankly excited about all this," said Bill Iverson, the county's public art project manager. "Being able to move forward on two projects like these - that's what I was brought here for."

Public Art Committee Chairman Antonio Amadeo said he's optimistic about the program's future, despite probable budget cuts.

"Every jurisdiction, every city, every county has a public art program," Amadeo said. "It's important for business and culture; it defines cities and brings in people to live and appreciate their heritage. This process is very sobering, but that is life."

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at msalinero@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-8303.

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