Should We Stop Paying the Arts Tax?
It’s that time of year again when the city sends out semi-threatening letters reminding you to pay your $35 arts tax. If you forgot, back in 2012, we voted overwhelmingly in favor of this tax, which supplements art education in public schools and funds art programming in our city. But the moment it passed, it seemed most of us regretted our decision. Even larger arts organizations that petitioned for it claimed they saw less money than before the tax was passed.
Today on City Cast Portland, host Claudia Meza talks with Helen Daltoso, the director of grants for the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) – one of the main organizations that help distribute funding from the tax. Helen explains how it all works and why this tax still benefits our city.
Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448.
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