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Proposed Kansas City Budget Supports Arts Funding

Kansas City City Manager Troy Schulte submitted his official proposed budget for 2014-2015 to Mayor Sly James Wednesday afternoon.

The plan calls for an overall 2.7 percent increase in spending. About 40 percent of that $37 million increase will go to start fully funding the city's share of its long underfunded employee pensions.

Basic services budgets remain at about 2013-2014 levels, but cuts are planned in the municipal court and in jobs at City Hall.

Schulte did include funds to meet a council commitment to increase spending for arts programs by $325,000.

A boost in support for the arts was recommended by the Mayor's Task Force for the Arts. This includes $50,000 for a new film commission, $75,000 for ArtsKC, and $200,000 for two new city positions to staff a newly created Office of Creative Services.

The mayor will submit any revisions he might want to make by Feb. 6, before public hearings and a council vote. The final budget will be adopted March 27 and take effect on May 1.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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