Letters From the Creative Bureaucrat, May

I write a monthly column in Northern Arizona's arts and news monthly publication, The Noise. My column is called "Letters from the Creative Bureaucrat." Here follows "part two" of two part series on the BBB as published in the April issue column... (click here for "part one").

It’s crunch time, folks. If you live in Flagstaff, you will be (or already are) looking at a ballot due May 18 that contains five initiatives for your consideration. Thankfully, I’m here to help you sort out one of these initiatives: Prop 401. Last month, I promised I would debate myself over how I will vote on 401, the initiative to renew the BBB tax.

So without further adieu, I’ll launch into split personalities – for the good of the community:

Haven’t you been paying attention? There are protests all over the country – and four initiatives on this ballot are tax proposals. I’m struggling enough to pay my mortgage and my bills. We’re tired of this Recession. We’ve had enough and we simply cannot take it anymore.

I understand your pain, but Prop 401 doesn’t hit Flagstaff residents all that hard. On average, 73% of the tax is paid for by visitors to Flagstaff. The BBB is collected on purchases of lodging, alcoholic beverages, and restaurant dining. It’s smart business for a town to collect from the visitors who enjoy its many benefits.

It is also important to note that Prop 401 is a renewal of the BBB tax revenues – it is not asking for a tax increase. Voters first approved the initiative in 1988. The tax rate remains the same, and is pretty small, charting in at 2%.

And we use this funding for good: it serves residents — with funding for Parks and Recreation: ballparks, skating rinks, and the Flagstaff Urban Trails System. BBB revenues support tourism dollars that go into promoting our town. BBB supports arts, science and culture programs both tourists and residents enjoy: the Museum of Northern Arizona, Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff Symphony, Theatrikos, Flagstaff Open Studios, KNAU, events on Heritage Square, Pickin’ in the Pines and the Celtic Heritage Fest, to name a few.

Funding for non-profit arts and culture groups? What kind of charity are we giving out here? Those groups should be able to survive on their own in the free market, or be allowed to die.

Man, that’s cold. But I don’t totally disagree with you: arts and culture organizations should be able to survive. And they do, with or without government support. But Prop 401 is about more than that. It’s about a smart investment in programs that aim to support our community socially and economically, without taking profit.

The truth about investments in the culture of our community are this: every dollar local governments invest into arts programs will pay back $7 in local, state and federal tax. Moreover, those tourists who help keep Flagstaff above the fray in the midst of a huge Recession: they don’t come to towns where there’s nothing to do. When we promote Flagstaff, we are making a promise to those folks that this town is a great place to be. We must also deliver on that promise. Investing in arts and culture gives everyone great programs that build community and keep tourists coming back for more.

That isn’t charity. It’s smart business.

If you want to build a strong local economy, you reduce taxes so the free market can do its magic. With lesser taxes, people have more money to invest in their businesses and to make purchases.

No doubt there is value to the free market. However, a local government also works much like a business – a business that builds a strong local economy for every one of its residents. So much of Flagstaff’s economy thrives from tourism. When the BBB brings us more visitors, or invests in programs that attract residents to come out and engage the community, aren’t we building a stronger free market?

Case in point: compare Flagstaff to Prescott. Both cities position themselves as tourist destinations and as places rich in history and culture. Only Flagstaff has a true dedicated BBB Revenue stream that invests strongly in tourism, the arts, parks and jobs. Prescott, with a much smaller investment, is seeing double-digit losses in tourism revenue during this recession, while Flagstaff is weathering the storm.

Prescott historian and long-time culture advocate, Elisabeth Ruffner, recently bemoaned to me how envious she was of Flagstaff’s BBB program. She felt that Prescott would have so much more going for it – in terms of visibility and viability – if there was a dedicated BBB stream. Prescott’s a great town and deserves to be ‘on the map’ the way Flagstaff is. Prescott’s local businesses deserve it, too.

Fortunately, Flagstaff has that going for it. For all of us. We can’t let go of what makes us special.

Cheers,
JT

Letters From the Creative Bureaucrat, April

I write a monthly column in Northern Arizona's arts and news monthly publication, The Noise. My column is called "Letters from the Creative Bureaucrat." Here follows "part one" of two part series on the BBB as published in the April issue column... (pick up a copy of The Noise, too).

I love lists. I will make “top five” or “top ten” lists for just about anything: favorite movies, best cocktails at a party, favorite holidays, worst actors of all time… the possibilities are never-ending. In fact, I could create a list of “top ten interesting lists to spur fun debate with your friends.”

Here in this fertile literary world of The Noise, for both this month and in May, I intend to wax on about a little thing called the BBB. And I intend to do so by using lists, regardless of my own inner voice that warns me that lists are a little lazy when it comes to writing a column (you’ll forgive me, I hope).

The first list, here and now, will be to expound upon the benefits and values of the BBB. No, I’m not talking about the Better Business Bureau. I’m talking about the City of Flagstaff’s Bed, Board and Booze tax revenues, which contribute heavily to setting Flagstaff as a shining example of a community in Arizona (one of the few) that is willing to invest in arts and culture, among other things.

So to the task at hand: Just what do the BBB Revenues do for Flagstaff? Here are five important highlights…

1. The BBB Revenues are an investment in the strength of our local economy. “Investment” is the key word. These are not programs that simply make us feel all fuzzy inside (although that does happen). BBB funded programs create jobs in the creative sector (arts, tourism, science, economic development), encourage visitation, and help to attract and retain business and the creative class. BBB funding fortifies our local economy, which is why Flagstaff has not suffered as heavily during this national recession as some other communities.

2. The BBB provides funding for art and cultural programs throughout the Flagstaff area. These are quality programs that make the arts accessible to everyone, such as (watch as I employ the “list within a list” technique):

• Free concerts and performances on Heritage Square and elsewhere, Festivals such as the Celtic Heritage Festival and Pickin’ in the Pines,
• Youth art and theatre programs that give local youth healthy avenues to express themselves and build confidence,
• Dry Creek Arts Fellowship’s program to provide arts workshop to local cancer patients, and the P.E.A.C.E. Project that uses theatre to teach healthy relationships to local youth, and,
• Many more arts, culture and science programs that YOU enjoy (like this very publication).

3. The BBB encourages greener living. Did you know that BBB Revenues directly fund the FUTS (Flagstaff Urban Trails System), a city-wide network of non-motorized, shared-use pathways that are used by bicyclists, walkers, hikers, runners, and other users for both recreation and transportation? There are over 50 miles of these awesome trails, with a total of 130 miles planned.

4. The BBB funds tourism attraction. Tourism attraction means a stronger local economy and helps to drive larger audiences to arts and cultural programs locally. Festivals, concerts, art galleries (and thereby local artists), and local businesses all benefit when we have the ability to attract visitors. Especially during a challenging nationwide economic recession.

5. The BBB funds Flagstaff’s beauty. That’s right, BBB supports beautification and public art efforts. Don’t downplay the importance of beauty… it is one of the essential reasons that so many people see Flagstaff as an attractive place to visit and live. Trees and mountains don’t do it on their own – we have built a small city here, and it is important that we work to develop beautiful parks, urban design and public art that serve to fit into the natural surroundings.

I could list another five benefits easily, but space is limited. In short, the BBB is a huge part of what makes Flagstaff so special – and part of what is keeping us afloat during tough times.

And I haven’t forgotten: the second list I will create on the BBB – this is your teaser for next month’s thrilling episode – will be a debate, with myself, about whether or not the BBB should be renewed via election by Flagstaff voters on May 18. Don’t fret about that one – I perform admirably in conversational battle with myself all the time. Just ask my neighbors.