The Oregon Legislature has voted to steal $1.8 million from the Oregon Cultural Trust to close a budget gap. The trust was established to fund the arts in Oregon, which traditionally has a parsimonious approach to arts funding.
Problem is, these aren’t public funds, in the usual sense of the word. The Oregon Trust represents voluntary contributions made by individuals through direct gifts, for which donors receive a tax credit, and proceeds from special license plates, for which purchasers pay extra.
The Legislature has broken the trust—both literally and figuratively—by redirecting privately contributed funds to public coffers. Doug Stamm, President of the Meyer Memorial Trust, which made an initial gift to establish the Cultural Trust, was diplomatically low key about the diversion. But asked what would happen if another organization were to divert non-discretionary grant funds from MTT, Stamm said it would be the last grant they would see.
We annually contribute the maximum amount matched by the tax credit and feel robbed.
Posted by jimlewis 