Conference Committee Budget, Part 2: The Legislature Approves

The arts are a hot policy issue right now, as they should be. At the national level, the U.S. Senate this week began considering legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This hasn’t happened in over a decade. The U.S. House is also working on its education bill.

Due to your advocacy, the current bill contains several pro-arts provisions, including retaining the arts as a core academic subject. As the nation embraces the value of arts, our hard work and vigilance are required to make sure Massachusetts remains a creative economy leader. The state budget is a crucial focal point.

The state legislature on Wednesday approved a $38.1 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16). The House of Representatives and the Senate agreed on the compromise bill after weeks of “Conference Committee” negotiations. The proposal is now before Governor Charlie Baker for his signature.

There are several funding line items and two “outside sections” that MALC has been following throughout the budget process:

Massachusetts Office of Tourism and Travel (MOTT) Funding

Through its marketing work and via its regional offices of travel and tourism, MOTT supports art, culture, and the creative economy. The MA Film Office is under MOTT. The Conference Committee allocated $14.6 million for MOTT funding in line item 7008-0900. Funding for this line item had originally been set at $6 million in the House budget proposal and $7.5 million in the Senate budget proposal.

Library Funding

The Conference Committee allocated $200,000 to fund the Massachusetts Center for Book in line item 7000-9508. The House originally approved $250,000 for the center while the Senate initially rejected a bid to set funding at the eventually agreed upon $200,000.

The Conference Committee allocated $9,983,482 to fund Regional Public Libraries in line item 7000-9401. The House originally set funding at over $10 million, while the Senate set it at almost $9.9 million.

Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) Funding

The Conference Committee allocated $14.1 million for MCC funding in line item 0640-0300. Both the House and the Senate had approved increasing MCC funding. The House signed off on $12 million and the Senate on $14. The Conference Committee agreed on the higher Senate number.

The Conference Committee did not include funding for Marketing for Cultural Districts. The House had approved $250,000 for it, but the Senate had approved no funding.

Film Tax Credit “Outside Section”

Outside sections do not allocate funding, but do impact the policies of the state. The Conference Committee chose to not include anti-film tax credit language from the budget.

Percent For Art Program

The Conference Committee approved adding Percent For Art Language to  SECTION 14. Chapter 7C of the General Laws. Under this program, if construction or substantial renovation of state-owned buildings and properties is undertaken, a minimum of 0.5 per cent of the cost of that construction or substantial renovation, not to exceed $250,000, shall be dedicated to the preservation of existing public art and the creation of new public art.

Governor Baker has three options:

1: Approved the budget proposal
2: Veto the budget proposal
3: Veto specific line items within the budget

The Governor has 10 days to decide how he wants to proceed. MALC will keep you informed as the state budget moves toward completion. Stay tuned!