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Commissioners weigh reallocating Creative Pinellas funds to a county-run arts‑tourism grant
Summary
A commissioner proposed shifting some Creative Pinellas funding back into Tourism Development Tax (TDT) reserves and directing county staff to run a competitive arts‑tourism grant; staff said they will return with options and noted transportation-trust funds earmarked for anti-graffiti work would need reallocation.
A commissioner on Aug. 28 proposed reducing the county’s direct appropriation to Creative Pinellas and instead creating a county-run, competitive arts‑tourism grant program funded from Tourism Development Tax (TDT) money.
Background: Creative Pinellas, a non‑profit that serves as the county’s arts agency, currently receives county funds and TDT allocations to support local arts programs. The proposal would reallocate about $361,150 of the TDT portion and $156,000 from the general fund back to county coffers and set aside roughly $500,000 to create a tourism‑focused competitive grant administered by the county’s tourism office.
Why the idea was raised: The proponent said the competitive grant — structured like the county’s event-support (TDC) grants — would more directly tie cultural spending to tourism and produce clearer returns for TDT‑funded priorities. Staff noted one transportation trust allocation in the Creative Pinellas budget ($36,000) currently funds an anti‑graffiti program and would need a replacement funding plan if moved.
Response and next steps: Commissioners expressed mixed interest in the change and asked staff to brief the arts community and bring options back in a workshop rather than make an immediate change. Staff said they would account for the anti‑graffiti line and consult the Tourist Development Council on any TDT changes.
Ending: County staff will return with options and impact analyses before any final reallocation is made.
