VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY

9 December 2009

City Commissioners

City of Lawrence, City Hall

6 E. 6^th Street

Lawrence, KS  66044

Re:  Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission – outstanding 2009 budget item

Dear Mayor Chestnut and the City Commissioners:

As Chair of the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission (LCAC), I would like to bring an outstanding budget matter to your attention.

As you know, with City funding, LCAC generally supports the arts in the City of Lawrence, but also specifically funds a few particular programs, including the Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition (ODSE).  This is the program that brings varying pieces of sculpture to the downtown area.

In early 2009, anticipating severe budget cuts, LCAC voted to re-prioritize our 2009 expenses and bypass the 2009 ODSE program.  Instead, we contacted the artists of the existing pieces on display and sought permission to maintain their sculptures for one more year.  This was successful enough to save LCAC nearly $10,000 of previously-committed ODSE funds.

By summer of 2009, LCAC learned that our budget would not be severely cut (at least for now), thereby leaving us with approximately $10,000 of unencumbered funds.  Believing that we needed to commit these funds by December 31, 2009, we spent much time and effort in thinking of the best way to use this apparent windfall, consistent with our mission and long-term goals.  This included conducting a city-wide survey in August to try and gauge the needs and desires of those citizens interested in the arts.

During this time, we subsequently learned that because the LCAC funds are part of a separate budget account and not commingled in the General Funds, that it was possible to carry-over this $10,000 balance to calendar year 2010.  LCAC voted to petition the City Commission accordingly, as it would give us additional time to assess the possibilities for allocating this money.

Therefore, in light of this information, LCAC respectfully requests the City Commission to authorize this non-General Fund balance of approximately $10,000 to be carried-over for LCAC purposes during the 2010 calendar year.

Most sincerely,

/amyckelly/

Amy C. Kelly, Chair

Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission

cc:  Diane Stoddard, LCAC City Liaison