Frederick Maryland's Nightlife and Entertainment Authority.
Support the Arts!
Just got this email from Shuan Butcher over at the Arts Council. Lennie's up to his old antics.
Dear Artists and Arts Organizations:
This is just a reminder that the BOCC is scheduled to discuss the possible repeal of the A&E tax credit at a public hearing scheduled tonight. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Winchester Hall. If you can make it, please plan to attend. We need to have a good turnout to demonstrate that the arts are important to Frederick County. It is not necessary or required that you speak or provide testimony, however anyone is welcome to do so. Some of the prevailing thought is that this tax credit only benefits the arts community, which is certainly not true. The arts provide an economic impact to the entire region and generate income for a variety of other business in the community. Not to mention it provides for a good quality of life for the employees working at other businesses.
If the motion to repeal passes, it will tarnish the image and reputation Frederick County has as an arts destination and thriving arts community. And, it will hurt local artists who can take advantage of the tax benefits afforded to them for conducting art-related business or activities within the district. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Shuan
Mr. Shuan Butcher, Executive Director
Frederick Arts Council
15 W. Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701
301-662-4190
www.frederickartscouncil.org
Dear Artists and Arts Organizations:
This is just a reminder that the BOCC is scheduled to discuss the possible repeal of the A&E tax credit at a public hearing scheduled tonight. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Winchester Hall. If you can make it, please plan to attend. We need to have a good turnout to demonstrate that the arts are important to Frederick County. It is not necessary or required that you speak or provide testimony, however anyone is welcome to do so. Some of the prevailing thought is that this tax credit only benefits the arts community, which is certainly not true. The arts provide an economic impact to the entire region and generate income for a variety of other business in the community. Not to mention it provides for a good quality of life for the employees working at other businesses.
If the motion to repeal passes, it will tarnish the image and reputation Frederick County has as an arts destination and thriving arts community. And, it will hurt local artists who can take advantage of the tax benefits afforded to them for conducting art-related business or activities within the district. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Shuan
Mr. Shuan Butcher, Executive Director
Frederick Arts Council
15 W. Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701
301-662-4190
www.frederickartscouncil.org
8 Comments
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Comment by Darren on March 18, 2008 at 2:07pm - I really wish I could make it out to this meeting. We need to fill the seats with as many pro-arts people as possible. Unfortunately, I'm moving tomorrow, and the new place still needs work. Nonetheless, I strongly encourage everyone to go, this is an important cause. Like Mr. Butcher said, our thriving arts community has given Frederick a lot of the culture we enjoy, and often take for granted.
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Comment by CitySide on March 18, 2008 at 2:38pm - I'm going to try and make it...thanks for bumping this up to the main page.
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Comment by Zaminy on March 18, 2008 at 4:48pm - I'll be there. You know I can't keep my mouth shut on something like this.
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Comment by Darren on March 19, 2008 at 3:03am
- So how did it go?
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Comment by Zaminy on March 19, 2008 at 8:26am
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It's a long (4-hour!) story ... But in a surprise ending, the BOCC decided to continue its support of the A&E District property tax credit. Commissioners Thompson and Gray voted to repeal the tax credit, but Commissioners Hagen, Gardner, and Jenkins voted to retain it.
It was a suspenseful night, and things looked sort of bleak for a few minutes toward the end. But the arts won, which means we ALL won. YAY YAY YAY!
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Comment by CitySide on March 19, 2008 at 10:09am
- Yep, Jenkins - being an anti tax (and targeted tax break) libertarian sort - started out the meeting pretty firmly in the "No" column alongside Lennie. But the speakers won him over with arguments explaining the economic benefits of a thriving arts community. Kudos to Shaun Butcher, Kara Norman, Richard Griffin, Zaminy and others.
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Comment by joules on March 20, 2008 at 4:20pm - As someone who likes to support the local arts scene wherever I go, I would loke to say thank you to everyone who came to the meeting to support the arts, and a special thank you to everyone who spoke. It was an interesting civics lesson for me personally, and it was great to see the BOCC persuaded (well, some of them, anyway) not to undo what many city and county officals and local arts and economic development groups had come together a few years ago to create.
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