(Spencer)– The Spencer Cultural Alliance is asking the city council to find a permanent source of funding for the Renaissance Initiative Grant Program.
The program was created in 1999 after the passage of Spencer’s Local Option Sales Tax. The city designated 15 percent of the tax revenue to fund community development, including 35-thousand dollars year for the Renaissance Initiative Grant Program.
In his initial budget proposal for the next fiscal year, City Manager Dean Torreson had proposed to eliminate the grant program. After speaking with the arts community and city councilmen last week, Torreson changed his mind and put the 26-thousand dollar program back in the budget for next year. That didn’t stop the Spencer Cultural Alliance from addressing the council Monday.
Oxsana Bidore served as spokesperson for the Alliance. She urged the council to fund the grant program with Local Option Sales Tax revenue instead of cash reserves.
Torreson has suggested the newly formed Clay County Community Foundation serve as a funding source for the Cultural Alliance in the future. Bidore says they aren’t keen on that idea.
In summary, she asked the council to continue their support for the Rennaissance Grant Program.
No official action was taken on the matter.
The Spencer city council will adopt a preliminary budget at their next meeting February 21st. A public hearing will be held March 7th, after which the final budget will be adopted.
Copyright GCI. All rights reserved.
