I hate to tell him but if I want to virtually tour a museum, the Louvre and the New York Met both offer virtual tours and PBS has constant concerts. The arts council’s suggestions seem senseless to me as well as wasteful. Art is important, but in this pandemic it is a luxury we cannot afford.”
Larry Kush, Scottsdale resident and Planning Commissioner
By Larry Kush
Throughout my adult life I have, on several occasions, been faced with varying economic hardships.
Plus, growing up, my family owned a small upholstery business in north Hollywood California and money was always tight. Also, my parents were both children of the great depression and understood what poverty looked and felt like.
When times are good we all tend to splurge on fun things like movies, extra cable channels and upscale restaurants, maybe even a new car. However, when things are not good we cut back with every family resetting their individual priorities.
Currently, this country is in financial crisis! Unemployment has jumped to near depression levels and throughout the county people are lining up in their cars, for miles, for food donations.
No different is the City of Scottsdale, which boasts an approximate $1.5 billion dollar annual budget. Common sense says you cannot spend more than you take in (that is unless you’re the U.S. government). If you look at the 346 pages Scottsdale Budget Summary you can see how the city spends its money and where it earns its revenues.
Nearly 50% of the city’s revenues come from construction; auto sales; hotels and restaurants. Construction projects that have not yet started have been delayed until the pandemic is over; restaurants are only doing take out and the hotels are empty. Local car sales are down more than 80%. Clearly Scottsdale is in trouble.
My conversations with senior city staff and leadership indicate that the various city departments have all been instructed to look at reductions in costs. The City Council has put off making any meaningful cuts until more information is available, expecting results from the last two weeks in March early next week. I do not think council has time to wait for reports and studies, as quick action is needed.
Many cuts are simple to understand and make. By example, just this morning I noticed the city’s parking enforcement officer chalk marking the four lonely cars parked on my nearly empty street. This observation may not be a good example, but it is indicative of how governments work.
Like aircraft carriers, local governments are hard to stop and very slow to turn.
Auto titan Lee Iacocca once said that he never saw a budget that could not trimmed by at least 10%. In Scottsdale that would be around $150 million dollars saved. I’m an amateur when it comes to city finances, but I do know enough to question some of the numbers present in our city’s budget.
By example, two departments with the highest annual budgets ($10 million each) are the offices of the city attorney and the city treasurer. The city attorney’s office lists a staff of 47.
These departments, like many others in city government will no doubt be looking at cuts in the 25-35% range.
A great example of areas where savings could easily exceed 20% is in the arts.
By example, the City of Phoenix is looking at a 25% reduction in their arts program.
The Scottsdale Cultural Council has an annual budget exceeding $13 million dollars. The only report that I could find online showed that the council had nearly $2 million dollars in reserves for city arts projects.
When families are going hungry how can we accept these kinds of numbers?
An excellent example is the new Caesar’s Hotel at Fashion Square is ready to pull their construction permit.
I spoke with the developer and he told me that of the $700,000 he needs to spend on that permit over $400,000 is earmarked for public art. What better example of Scottsdale government not having its priorities in order!
As I said, then things are good you have the funds to spend on public art.
However, we no longer have that luxury. I am sure that the developer of Caesars would love to redirect that $400,000 to the police and fire department for protective gear or to some other, more timely, emergency pandemic need.
In an April 9 New Times article, the reporter asked the Scottsdale Cultural Council’s chairman what their plans were for the arts during this time of pandemic. He said “For now, he’s working with staff on ways to provide virtual experiences to people who miss spending time at the museum or performing arts center.”
I hate to tell him but if I want to virtually tour a museum, the Louvre and the New York Met both offer virtual tours and PBS has constant concerts. The arts council’s suggestions seem senseless to me as well as wasteful. Art is important, but in this pandemic it is a luxury we cannot afford.
Editor’s Note: Larry Kush is a six year Scottsdale Planning Commissioner.
