Council approves two Aker Trust arts grants, returns Prescuit Life School application to committee over budget inconsistencies

Prescott City Council on June 23 approved two Aker Trust grant recommendations but withheld final approval of a third application after council members raised concerns about inconsistencies in the project's budget.

Councilman Jay Ruby questioned the Prescuit Life School application, saying the submitted materials mixed an organizational financial statement with a project budget and contained figures that did not reconcile. Ruby pointed to the application’s listing of 40 students and an entry of $4,500 “per student” for admissions income — which, if read literally, would total roughly $180,000 — yet the expense lines did not match that revenue or list the stated instruments and materials the award was intended to purchase. Ruby said the application’s “expenses did not tally up” and moved that council approve awards to Arizona Philharmonic and One Stage Family but return the Prescuit Life School packet to the civic enhancement committee for further review and a corrected project budget.

City staff explained the civic enhancement committee had reviewed all applicants and that Prescuit Life School was the applicant’s first time using the standard Aker Trust form. The city noted award payments are managed through the trust and that recipients must file end‑of‑year reports explaining how funds were spent.

Council action: Councilman Ruby’s motion to approve awards to the Arizona Philharmonic and One Stage Family and to send the Prescuit Life School application back to the civic enhancement committee for clarification carried (recorded vote: unanimous in favor). The council directed the committee to request a project budget that clearly shows what the requested $4,500 (the application’s stated award amount) would buy; if the school cannot show the funds would be spent on eligible music‑education items, the award would not be disbursed.

Why it matters: The Aker Trust funds are intended to support local music and arts programs for youth. Council members said they want clearer, consistent project budgets and better committee review — particularly for first‑time applicants — to ensure that limited trust interest earnings are allocated transparently.

What’s next: The civic enhancement committee will follow up with Prescuit Life School for a revised project budget; the city will proceed with awards to the other two recommended groups once procedural requirements are met.