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Ante Up For Art?
Voters in Oakland and Wayne counties have a second chance
to approve a regional culture tax — Proposal K
DIANA LIEBERMAN
Copy Editor/Education Writer
Live Entertamillent
FdaSaturday
each year.
"Especially now, as the museum is
moving forward in the renovation,
we need the extra funds to provide
quality programming for families,"
said Linda Margolin, DIA associate
"We are thrilled and delighted to
see this evidence that our communi-
ty values the arts," said Evelyn
is back. The so-called "arts tax
Orbach, the theater's artistic direc-
" — barely defeated by voters
tor.
in Wayne and Oakland coun-
"Even though we are not on the
I ties two years ago
`majors' list, we would
— will appear once again
hope the community
on the Tuesday, Nov. 5,
would recognize the servic-
ballot.
es we provide on a regional
Proposal K, which
basis and intlude us in the
must be passed by voters
one-third earmarked for
in both counties to
local arts, cultural and
become law, would raise
recreational programs. The
about $45 million for
money is sorely needed by
each of the next 10 years
us. "
to fund local cultural
In the past year alone,
programs and institu-
more than 50,000
tions, as well as public
Michigan children saw
recreational facilities.
shows, including the the-
For the owner of a
ater's acclaimed production
property with a taxable
of The Diary of Anne
value of $100,000 (mar-
Frank, through JET's out-
Evelyn Orbach, JET artistic
Linda Margolin, DIA
ket value of about
reach program.
director: "We are thrilled
associate educator for public
$200,000), the 0.5-mill,
DIA volunteer Andrea
programs: "We need the extra Morganroth of
10-year levy would mean and delighted to see this
evidence that our community
funds to provide quality
an additional $50 a year
Birmingham, who is
values the arts."
programming for families."
in taxes through 2013.
expecting her second child
In 2000, when
this month, said she sup-
Michigan's economy was booming, a educator for public programs.
ports Proposal K because she believes
nearly identical tax proposal failed
The millage also would help the
all the community's children deserve
by a 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent
museum stay open enough hours
a future filled with beauty and cre-
ratio. Of the more than 500,000
each week so people could take
ativity.
votes cast in Oakland County, the
advantage of the facility's many serv-
Morganroth and her husband,
nays outnumbered the yeas by a
ices, she added.
Erik, are both board members of the
mere 1,039 votes -- one-tenth of
Very few theater groups are on list
museum's Founders Junior Council.
one percent.
of organizations that would directly
"Culture in our community is very
Will the regional arts tax fare bet-
benefit from passage of Proposal K.
close to our hearts," said Andrea
ter in today's dubious economy?
Among those that failed to make the Morganroth. "We both feel Detroit
Among the 17 organizations (see
cut is the Jewish Ensemble Theatre
doesn't have much to offer, but the
box) holding their breaths. as Nov. 5
(JET).
DIA is one of our jewels." 111
nears is the Holocaust Memorial
Center, which is building a new
facility in Farmington Hills.
"If the tax passes, it would mean
about 17 percent of our annual
Two-thirds of the revenue from Proposal K would go to the following institutions:
budget of $960,000 [roughly
Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Opera Theatre, Detroit Zoological Park,
$163,000]," said Selma Silverman,
Cranbrook Science Institute, Cranbrook House and Gardens, Cranbrook Art
the center's administrator.
Museum, Music Hall Center, Detroit Historical Museum, Henry Ford Museum
"All 17 on the list are my favorite
and Greenfield Village, Detroit Public Television, Detroit Science Center, Charles
places," she said. "I want them all to
H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Symphony Orchestra,
be funded."
Holocaust Memorial Center, Meadow Brook Theater, Meadow Brook Hall, College
for Creative Studies.
The Detroit Institute of Arts has,
perhaps, the most to gain of the 17
One-third would stay in the community where it was raised, to support local arts,
arts and cultural organizations that
performance, recreational and cultural programs, including senior centers, public
would receive additional funding
parks and soccer fields, in proportion to the amount collected from that community.
under Proposal K. With a yearly
Revenue from the millage may not be substituted for already committed general
budget of about $33 million, the
fund money. A pro-Proposal K Web site is vvvv.artsparksandicids org
DIA stands to reap about $4 million
Who Would Benefit
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10/25
2002
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