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DC arts agency says council will decide July 28 on budget cut, loss of fund balance
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Summary
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities reported a proposed 5.1% reduction to its FY26 appropriation and the likely loss of its non‑lapsing fund balance; the agency said the Council of the District of Columbia will take a final vote on July 28.
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities said on July 21 that the Council of the District of Columbia is scheduled to take a final vote on the agency’s FY26 budget on July 28, and that under the proposed figure the commission would face a 5.1% reduction from its FY25 appropriation and would lose its fund balance. Aaron Myers, executive director of the commission, delivered the update at the commission’s regular meeting and said the change would prevent the agency from maintaining non‑lapsing funds that previously could carry forward.
The commission’s loss of a fund balance means any unspent funds would be returned to the city administrator’s office or the general fund at year end rather than retained by the agency. “We stand to lose 5.1% of our budget from our FY25 appropriation. Further, we stand to lose our fund balance,” Myers said. He added that the statement did not account for any potential pauses resulting from congressional actions.
Myers said federal support from the National Endowment for the Arts remains steady and that the commission would receive an increase of $25,000 in matching funds to focus on America 250 programming. He said the agency must “steward the resources that we have wisely” and that “all grants will be awarded fairly and equitably.”
Myers also reported that DC Human Resources (DCHR) is conducting agency desk audits to confirm staff positions, grades and steps; those audits were scheduled to be completed around July 18 but had been extended a few days to finish conversations with managers and staff. “This is the first time in rightsizing things,” Myers said, describing the effort as a review of whether job assignments match grade and step rather than an across‑the‑board pay increase.
The commission’s report noted the July 28 council vote will determine whether the fund balance is retained; the commission did not announce any binding internal decisions at the July 21 meeting. The agency said it will continue to pursue equitable distribution of grant funding regardless of the council outcome and that it is monitoring potential changes from local and federal partners.
The commission’s public meeting was conducted under the District’s Open Meetings Act and was live‑streamed; Myers’ budget remarks were part of the executive director’s report during the open session.
