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PCA Faces 70% Reduction in HB 1485 Contact your legislators by May 23, 2011 Public support for the arts is a small investment relative to the sizable impact the arts contribute to the economy and quality of life of a community. For example, the Lehigh Valley’s nonprofit arts industry is a great source of tax revenue for the Commonwealth. According to the Arts & Economic Prosperity III study (2007), the Lehigh Valley’s nonprofit arts industry has an economic impact of $169.11 million annually and generates $11.1 million in state tax revenues alone. So, what would it mean to the Lehigh Valley if the budget for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts was cut from $8.2 million to $2.5 million next year, as proposed by the PA House Appropriations Committee in HB 1485? Thirty-one nonprofit cultural organizations in our region would lose $350,000 next year in operating support—including ArtsQuest with the largest award of $88,450 down the list to the Lehigh Valley Arts Council with $2,948. (Yes, that’s right! The Lehigh Valley’s nonprofit arts community receives $350,000 in arts funding annually but the state gets $11.1 million in taxes from our region’s nonprofit arts activities.) It’s hard to comprehend the logic of HB 1485, but if the legislature cuts the PCA budget to $2.5 million, it’s clear the taxpayer is the biggest loser. The bill will now go to the full House of Representatives for consideration on May 23. Call your State Rep and Senator and Take Action. Find contact info here... TAKE ACTION! Lehigh Valley Arts Council www.LVArtsCouncil.org On 5/11/11 the PA House Appropriations Committee passed an amendment to the budget bill (HB 1485) that included a combined cut of over 70% to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) administrative and grants line items. The bill will now go to the full House of Representatives for consideration on May 23. If you contact your legislators, please ask for restoration of the line items for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts to the levels recommended by Governor Corbett is his budget. Governor Corbett recommended $8.262 million for arts grants as well as $895,000 for administration of the PCA. The nonprofit arts industry in PA supports 62,000 full-time equavilent jobs annually which would be severely reduced by the proposed cut to arts grants. PA nonprofit arts organizations generate almost $2 billion in economic activity each year. State tax revenue, supported by the PA nonprofit arts industry activity, amounts to over $155 million each year. connect with us   This e-mail was sent from Lehigh Valley Arts Council Immediate removal with ® Secure. To forward this e-mail to a friend or colleague, . To change your e-mail address or update preferences, .