The proposed State budget released late yesterday does NOT contain any cuts to NYSCA.

The grants portion of the NYSCA allocation funded from State dollars is projected to be $35. 6 million, which is the same grants level as this year.

The administrative allocation for NYSCA is $4.1 or $4.2 (depends on which line you read, but let’s not quibble over a $100,000).

In addition, each of the above categories has a $500,000 increase to be used in “establishing an account, which would enable NYSCA to utilize private donations for arts-related purposes.”

These numbers do not include the NEA funds, which the State will receive, and that amount could be a million plus.

Bottom Line: No decrease in funding is always good news. A million dollar increase with so little information (that I can find) and no public process from NYSCA regarding a plan to initiate private sector fund raising to be used by the agency brings up a lot of questions, which will require answers.

This proposal does not specifically address the question of continuing to use the $4 million within the grants portion for the funding proposals that pass muster with the Regional Economic Development Councils, but I am sure it is to be continued.

Future: You will receive any clarification I am able to obtain on the unanswered questions outlined above. The Arts Coalition’s new team (staff; Tory Lynford, Executive Director; Esther Bermann, Administrative Assistant; and the new Co-Chairs: Anne Dennin, Andrea Louie and Richard Kessler) and I will be working throughout this transition to insure a weekly presence in Albany to explain the needs and concerns of the field to the legislature.

Norma P. Munn
Chairwoman Emeritus