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DECD budget cuts trim arts, tourism grants; agency says priorities remain and will brief legislature
Summary
The Department of Economic and Community Development said the governors budget eliminates a various grants line that funded arts and tourism grants last year and shifts some formerly off-budget innovation and workforce programs into DECD, actions that drew criticism from legislators who called for more data and ROI details.
HARTFORD — The Department of Economic and Community Development told the Appropriations subcommittee on March 12 that the governors proposed budget eliminates a various grants line that funded arts and cultural organizations and reduces multiple tourism fund line items after lower-than-expected hotel-tax projections.
Commissioner Dan OKeefe and DECD officials defended the administrations approach while acknowledging the changes will prompt questions from lawmakers. "This was a difficult budget year...hard decisions had to be made," the commissioner said. He added the agency remains committed to the arts and to marketing tourism once fiscal conditions permit.
Why it matters: Legislators pressed DECD for data on tourism…
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