The City of Orange is cutting its funding to the Southeast Texas Arts Council by $31,163 this year. The city previously gave the arts council $50,000. The director of the arts group told City Council Tuesday that the arts group gives $30,000 of the city money to the Lutcher Theater for performances. Sue Bard said the Stark Foundation pays for the theater building and operations but not the performances.
The information came as the City Council held a public hearing on spending about $565,000 in hotel occupancy taxes paid by the people who stay in local hotels. Most of the money, $378,000, goes to support the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau.
State law restricts the ways the hotel tax can be used. The groups and activities must promote tourism or draw conventions. The categories include advertising for tourism and events, historical preservation and the arts.
City staff this year recommended giving the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce $40,000 for Mardi Gras and fishing tournaments, including the national Bass Masters tournament. City Councilman Tommy Ferguson said the 2013 Bass Masters tournament in Orange was the biggest event he has seen in Orange. He suggested the city give the chamber more money to support the tournament.
City Manager Shawn Oubre said the extra money would have to come out of the allocations to other groups or from the hotel tax savings fund balance. The savings is estimated to be $915,268 at this time. Oubre said the long-range goal for the savings is to restore City Hall, which is a 1920s Craftsman-style mansion.
After Ferguson’s suggestion, City Council agreed to let city staff find a way to give the chamber more money for Bass Masters and come back to council for approval.
Other allocations for the tax money will be $75,000 for additions to Riverfront Pavilion, $30,000 to Heritage House Museum, $15,000 to Friends of the Orange Depot for preservation, $3,000 for the Gulf Coast Cajun Festival, and $2,500 to Orange Trade Days. The city will also give $2,500 to the Southeast Texas Arts Council’s Off Ramp Magazine, which is distributed throughout the state to promote area-wide arts events, entertainment and historic sites. Orange previously gave the magazine $10,000. Cody Vasquez of Orange, who sits on the arts council board of directors spoke in favor of Southeast Texas Arts Council and pointed out that the group helps the Orange Community Players. Sandra Villadsen Cash of Orange, is also on the arts council board. She attended the meeting but did not speak during the public hearing.
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