Officials of the Chapel Hill museum are really miffed that town officials only partially funded — to the tune of $20,250 — the museum’s request for a taxpayer bailout. The museum wanted — and clearly expected — nearly $50,000 to fund everything from the light bill to repairs.
Oddly enough, I find myself defending the town council with which I usually disagree. They made a good decision — actually, they shouldn’t have offered any funds — but inexplicably, museum officials can’t seem to understand that council members realize the museum has no viable business plan, is unable to secure private funding from the wealthy community in which it sits, and shows no prospect of ever being able to support itself. That means taxpayers would likely be on the hook for this museum forever.
Because it didn’t get a full bailout, the museum is now closing. I haven’t visited the museum, but if it is as valuable as board members believe, it will attract private financial support, particularly from the university community which is known for its support of arts and history. And if it’s not, it won’t.
Now the big question: Will the town council cave?
