Monterey County's funding for the arts is safe, for now.

Arts organization leaders in Monterey County were alarmed by the proposed California state budget for 2024-25, which recommends cutting funding to the California Arts Council by 58 percent, or $10 million. 

Fortunately, there will be no cuts for the arts in the County of Monterey's budget for fiscal year 2024-25. In budget hearings on Wednesday, May 29, the Board of Supervisors reviewed funding for arts and discussed leaving them static from the current year's adopted budget.

The County contributes annually to the Arts Council for Monterey County, as well as to the Film Commission from transient-occupancy tax revenues generated by hotel stays. (TOT revenue also goes to the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau.) The local Arts Council receives a contribution equal to 1.98 percent. Combined, all three groups receive 8.93 percent of the County's TOT revenue.

In April 2022, the Board of Supervisors decided that moving forward contributions would no longer be based on a formula, but rather capped at the fiscal year 2019-20 amount of $2.1 million. Contributions to the above agencies had grown $1.2 million annually over the last nine fiscal years but decreased in 2024 by $532,684. 

According to the Arts Council for Monterey County’s executive director, Jacquie Atchison, “The arts are 8 percent of the state's GDP, supporting almost 850,000 jobs, a $290 billion industry with an economic impact of over $507 billion. 

"Nonprofit arts organizations generate millions in economic activity by attracting audiences who spend money on tickets, dining and other local services, thereby supporting the economy and community well-being,” she added, calling all local arts lovers to write both to the state government and—just in case—to all five Monterey County supervisors.

While the Arts Council for Monterey County gets funding from the California Arts Council and will be likely impacted by state cuts, contributions from the county seem safe, for now.