Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees (TED) responsible for the initial budget recommendations to fund 2017-2018 Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA) recommended grants released their initial appropriation recommendations today, March 28.  These numbers are not final and are subject to change.  This is a step in the development of Florida's FY 2017-2018 budget.  See below for details, and look for action alert tomorrow, March 29.
What the two TED Chairmen recommend as of March 28, 2017, to fund the 2017-2018 DCA recommended grants: 
Chairman Jeff Brandes
SENATE TED APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE:

The chairman of the SENATE Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development (TED) is Senator Jeff Brandes (R-24, part of Pinellas).  








HOUSE TED APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE:
Clay Ingram
Representative Clay Ingram

The chairman of  the HOUSE Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Tourism is Clay Ingram  (R-1, part of Escambia).  




Side-by-Side in Table Below:

Below are both of their appropriation recommendations for the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA) four grant-funding categories.  The numbers below are only recommendations and are not final numbers.  It's a step in a process to develop our state's annual budget.

Quick Budget Highlights as of 3-28-17 for DCA 2017-2018 Grants:

Both Chairmen recommend full funding for Culture Build Florida Grants -- $2,320,109;

House TED Chairman recommends full funding for Cultural Facilities Grants -- $11,591,554;

Senate TED Chairman recommends $7,061,922 more for Cultural and Museum Grants than the House TED Chairman.  See the table below for details, but neither Chairman recommends the $35,519,347 needed to fund all 480 recommended DCA grants at their qualified grant-amount levels under the Cultural and Museum Grants category;

Neither chairman recommends funding for the Cultural Endowment Program.



 
DCA Grant-Funding Categories:
Needed to Fully Fund All 638 
Recommended DCA 2017-2018 Grants:
Senate and House TED Chairmen's
Recommendations as of 
3-28-17 -- subject to change:
Cultural and Museum Grants
$35,519,347 needed to fully fund 480 recommended DCA grants


SENATE TED Chairman Brandes recommends: $19,690,046 (note that $1.5 million is for 3 legislative projects listed below not on ranked DCA list*) leaving $18,190,046 for 480 recommended DCA grants

HOUSE TED Chairman Ingram recommends: $11,128,124



Culture Builds Florida Grants
$2,320,109 needed to fully fund 110 recommended DCA grants


SENATE TED Chairman Brandes recommends:
 $2,320,109 would fully fund all 110 recommended DCA grants

HOUSE TED Chairman Ingram recommends:
 $2,320,109 would fully fund all 110 recommended DCA grants



Cultural Facilities Grants
$11,591,554 needed to fully fund 36 recommended DCA grants


SENATE TED Chairman Brandes recommends:
 $7,211,940 would fund the first 22 on list fully and partially #23 

HOUSE TED Chairman Ingram recommends:
 $11,591,554 would fully fund all 36 recommended DCA grants, plus two legislative projects that total $750,000**



Cultural Endowment State Matches
$2,880,000 needed to fully fund 12 state matches


SENATE TED Chairman Brandes recommends:
 $-0-

HOUSE TED Chairman Ingram recommends:
 $-0-



Subtotals:
$52,311,010 needed to fully fund all 638 DCA recommended grants


SENATE TED Chairman Brandes recommends as of
3-28-17:
$29,222,095
-  1,500,000*
$27,722,095 to fund 2017-2018 DCA grants


HOUSE TED Chairman Ingram recommends as of
3-28-17:
$25,789,787
-      750,000**
$25,039,787 to fund 2017-2018 DCA grants


Included in this first round of appropriation recommendations are some legislative projects that did not go through the DCA grant-application-and-review process, but are recommended directly by legislators:
 
Senate:

* The $1.5 million under Cultural and Museum Grants are recommended for the following three legislative projects:

Pinellas County:        St. Petersburg Warehouse Arts District Project -- $500,000
Pinellas County:        Great Explorations Children's Museum -- $500,000
Miami-Dade County:  African Museum of Arts and Culture Center -- $500,000

House:

** The additional $750,000 listed under the Cultural Facilities Grants are legislative projects for the following:

Duval County:  City of Jacksonville J.P. Small Park Museum Improvements ( HB 2439) -- $500,000

Orange County:  Orlando  Science Center ( HB 3615) -- $250,000



Time to pay attention

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 29, FCA will email to you and other advocates throughout our state an Action Alert regarding the above recommendations.  It will include who we need to thank and the action steps we need to take to secure the highest appropriations possible to fully fund all 638 recommended DCA grants for 2017-2018.

Please pay attention to your emails; look for the Action Alert; and follow through on the suggested action steps in a timely manner.

Thank you.