September 16, 2010
CONTACT: Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR
619-997-2495 or gayle@falconvalleygroup.com
Mayor’s Call to Suspend Public Arts Funding Applauded
Coalition of taxpayers calls for identification of additional program cuts in light of budget woes
(San Diego) – T.J. Zane, chairman of San Diegans Against Government Waste, applauded San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders’ memo to City Councilmembers today calling for a suspension in public arts funding due to ongoing budget constraints.
In the memo, Sanders cited Council Policy 900-11, amended in April 2004, which allows the Mayor to call for such suspensions in earmarked capital improvement art projects.
“They’ve identified a spot fire and are rushing to put it out quickly,” said Zane. “We’re grateful for the savings, but it begs the question: how many other programs like this remain in the City of San Diego’s budget where money could be saved?
“In tough budget times, taxpayers want to be assured every bit of cost-cutting possible is being done by our elected officials, and discoveries like this one don’t give us much confidence this is so,” added Zane.
"In the meantime, taxpayers are asked to cough up more sales tax dollars into the general fund, which can be spent on anything including programs like this one. Taxpayers get no guarantee where their money will be spent, and we now see it gets spent on hidden art programs which are the type of luxuries we can't afford right now."
For additional information on the No on D campaign, visit www.stopthesalestax.com, or find us on Facebook - "San Diegans Against the Sales Tax Increase."
