Fulton County commissioners reject $1.7 million restoration for arts contracts
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Summary
After more than two hours of public testimony from arts organizations, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners voted 2-3 to reject a resolution that would have restored $1.7 million to the Department of Arts and Culture's Contracts for Services program for fiscal 2025.
Fulton County commissioners voted down a resolution to restore $1,700,000 to the Department of Arts and Culture Contracts for Services program, with the motion failing 2-3 after extended public comment and deliberation.
The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Dana Barrett and Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr., would have amended the county's fiscal year 2025 budget to add $1.7 million so arts organizations could maintain funding levels from recent years. "We cannot stop investing in our community and investing in our future," Commissioner Dana Barrett said during debate.
The petitioners included dozens of arts leaders and nonprofit representatives who urged the board to restore the funds before grant allocations are finalized. Widuda Mohammed, executive director of Georgians for the Arts, told the commissioners that Georgia ranks 50th in per-capita state arts funding and that Fulton County has served as a statewide model. Christopher Escobar, owner of the Plaza and Tara theaters and executive director of the Atlanta Film Society, cited a study showing local tax revenue generated by arts activity and warned that cutting funding could be "penny wise and dollar foolish." Other speakers included representatives from the Alliance Theatre, Synchronicity Theatre, Hammond's House Museum, Woodruff Arts Center and the Atlanta Shakespeare Company.
Board members debated two competing priorities: immediate restoration of the arts funds now versus holding reserve funds to respond to the county's consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice and other anticipated legal and operational costs. "Hold on and let us assess what the consent decree demands of us," Commissioner Moe Ivory said, urging a pause until county staff can price required consent-decree actions and report back midyear. Ivory said staff would also work to speed the arts award process should funds become available later.
Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. and Commissioner Barrett argued the funds are small relative to the county budget and said not restoring them would force arts organizations to cut staff and programs. "The $1.7 million needed to maintain our arts funding at prior year levels amounts to less than 0.2% of our total general fund expenditure budget," Barrett said.
The board heard that applications for the Contracts for Services program were due Jan. 17 and that the review committee needs a final allocation by February to begin award decisions in early March. County staff confirmed they would look at adjusting the award timetable if money were restored later in the year.
The motion failed on the recorded count: yes 2, no 3. The transcript does not specify which members cast which votes. The resolution was described in the meeting as sponsored by Commissioners Barrett and Arrington and intended to "maintain the current level of services provided in fiscal year 2024." No alternative funding source was adopted during the meeting.
The public record at the meeting included multiple accounts from arts leaders of the sector's economic and social impact on Fulton County, including job creation, education and health benefits. County leaders said they recognize the arts' importance but must weigh that against obligations and costs tied to the DOJ consent decree and other county priorities.
Next steps discussed during the meeting included staff returning with budget estimates tied to the consent decree and a possible midyear reconsideration of the arts allocation if funds become available and a faster award process to distribute funds quickly when approved.
Votes and formal actions taken at the meeting related to the matter are recorded below.
