Title
An Ordinance to Terminate the Percent for Art Program by Amending Sections 1:832, 1:834 and 1:837 of Chapter 24 (Public Art) of Title I of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor
Memorandum
In November of 2007, City Council approved an ordinance that established the “percent for art” program which funds public art by diverting funds from approved capital projects whose source of funding includes tax millages for streets, parks, and solid waste as well as water and sewer system funds. The action was taken by City Council and not expressly authorized by the voters.
On November 7, 2012, Ann Arbor voters were presented with a ballot proposal for a four year, 0.1 mill tax for art in public places. Over 50,000 ballots were cast (56% of Ann Arbor’s registered voters) and voters rejected the proposal by a 56% to 44% margin.
It is largely acknowledged that since its inception, the “percent for art” program has been both controversial and plagued by operational challenges. The primary questions and concerns that have generated the “percent for art” program controversy include:
· Utilizing taxpayer dollars and public funds for public art.
· Reduced funds for much-needed capital infrastructure projects.
· Concern expressed by many Ann Arbor residents who do not believe voter-authorized tax millage funds for specific purposes should be used for public art, because they believe it is inappropriate and/or an unrelated purpose.
· The slow launch of the program, accumulated, unused surpluses at a challenging fiscal time for the City, and projects not universally accepted.
· The fact that the decision was made by City Council, not the voters, in spite of its impact on spending from voter-approved millages.
These proposed ordinance revisions terminate the requirement that 1% of capital improvement project costs be allocated to public art for all projects funded on or after July 1, 2013. Existing art funds will be spent on public art according to the ordinance until those fu...
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