As sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, proposals to cut budgets bring out special interests and one of the most powerful is the so-called arts community. The arts community usually gets its way because city council members and arts community members are often part of the same city elite. Thus council members are not only in tune with their special-interest pleadings, they rub elbows with them at the same cocktail parties, arts openings, etc. Even though most city council members are wealthier than the average city taxpayer, they like the fact that taxpayers are subsidizing their preferred form of entertainment. Thus, as noted by the News & Observer below, Raleigh council members have restored proposed cuts in the arts budget the last two years.

This “arts” subsidy is in a town that has huge potholes on almost every street, has rampant crime in the southeast section of town and, according to this N&O report, is refusing to pick up debris from the tornado last April. The city council should cut the entire $1.6 million in arts funding and devote that money to solving problems that are part of its core mission.

Arts groups are gearing up to rally against [Raleigh City Manager] Allen’s recommendation. Many say they’ve already cut costs amid shrinking corporate and private donations.

City Council members sided with arts groups each of the past two years by reversing the proposed cuts. But the choices get tougher this year. Raleigh officials must overcome a $12 million budget gap, up from $7.5 million last year…

Allen proposes trimming funding for the arts from $4.50 to $4 per resident. The arts commission would be left with $1.6 million to disburse among three dozen arts groups, or $150,000 less than last year.