The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee (PPC) today announced the endorsement of the Genesee County Arts Education & Cultural Enrichment millage proposal on the August 7 ballot, as part of an effort to burnish the region’s image as a great place to live, work and raise a family.
The request would levy 0.96 mills to provide free or deeply discounted admission to local art institutions, including the Flint Institute of Arts and Sloan Museum. It would also provide $500,000 to the Greater Flint Arts Council for arts programming grants to other nonprofit or governmental arts and cultural institutions in Genesee County.
The 0.96-mill levy on a $100,000 house with a taxable value of $50,000 would cost the homeowner $48 a year, and generate about $8.8 million in the first year.
The proposal, which is spearheaded by Citizens for a Better Genesee County, has the backing of the area’s major cultural institutions, including: Sloan-Longway Planetarium, Flint Institute of Arts, Flint Institute of Music, The Whiting, Capitol Theatre, Flint School of Performing Arts, The New McCree Theatre and the Friends of Berston Fieldhouse.
“Arts and cultural institutions are a vital component of a vibrant and thriving metropolitan region,” said Chamber CEO Tim Herman. “We’re very fortunate to have such a rich mix of institutions. This millage will allow us to build on that proud legacy by providing greater access for residents and more reasons for non-residents to take a fresh look at Flint & Genesee.”
Endorsement recommendations from the PPC are reviewed and approved by the Chamber’s Operating Board. The PPC reviewed the millage proposal presented by Randall Thompson on behalf of Citizens for a Better Genesee County and then voted. The Committee achieved a majority vote of support. A recommendation to endorse the millage was subsequently sent to the Operating Board, where the recommendation was approved. A majority vote of support was achieved to move a recommendation to endorse to the Operating Board for approval, where the recommendation was approved.