Below is a copy of a letter sent to Roger Mills, chairman of the Cayuga County Legislature.
Dear Mr. Mills,
As a Cayuga County resident I am writing to express my extreme displeasure with the decision of County Manager Wayne Allen to remove funding for the Cayuga Museum, Cayuga County Arts Council and Community Preservation Committee from his tentative 2009 budget. With tourism proving to be one of the county's most important industries, it is difficult to see the rationale behind cutting all funding for all of the key arts and culture agencies that drive tourism. The multiplier effects of tourism can be quite significant as each $1 in out-of-county tourist spending indirectly generates approximately $7 in local spending.
The proposed cuts could not only be disastrous for the further operation of the three organizations in question, but they will with absolute certainty cut down on tourist spending and in turn decrease induced effects on lodging, dining and retail. With tourism acting as a base industry for the county, any harm to tourist operations would be the same as cutting manufacturing or other exports.
In the past two years, Cayuga County has begun to turn an important corner. Residents are getting involved, development is increasing and we are beginning to recognize the central role that our county plays in the Finger Lakes region. These changes are happening despite the stubborn opposition, much of it from our own legislature, of individuals who would rather continue a pattern of decline, degradation and historic destruction than spend on programs they don't utilize or see the value in. Private individuals will continue to work for the proper development of our county, but it would be a boon to have the support of the legislature behind them. Unfortunately Manager Allen's suggestion of a unilateral cut of culture makes it appear that this may not be the case.
I would urge you, and all other members of the Legislature to speak out against these cuts and allow Cayuga County to continue on it path to cultural regeneration.
Robert Dusel
Auburn
As a Cayuga County resident I am writing to express my extreme displeasure with the decision of County Manager Wayne Allen to remove funding for the Cayuga Museum, Cayuga County Arts Council and Community Preservation Committee from his tentative 2009 budget. With tourism proving to be one of the county's most important industries, it is difficult to see the rationale behind cutting all funding for all of the key arts and culture agencies that drive tourism. The multiplier effects of tourism can be quite significant as each $1 in out-of-county tourist spending indirectly generates approximately $7 in local spending.
The proposed cuts could not only be disastrous for the further operation of the three organizations in question, but they will with absolute certainty cut down on tourist spending and in turn decrease induced effects on lodging, dining and retail. With tourism acting as a base industry for the county, any harm to tourist operations would be the same as cutting manufacturing or other exports.
In the past two years, Cayuga County has begun to turn an important corner. Residents are getting involved, development is increasing and we are beginning to recognize the central role that our county plays in the Finger Lakes region. These changes are happening despite the stubborn opposition, much of it from our own legislature, of individuals who would rather continue a pattern of decline, degradation and historic destruction than spend on programs they don't utilize or see the value in. Private individuals will continue to work for the proper development of our county, but it would be a boon to have the support of the legislature behind them. Unfortunately Manager Allen's suggestion of a unilateral cut of culture makes it appear that this may not be the case.
I would urge you, and all other members of the Legislature to speak out against these cuts and allow Cayuga County to continue on it path to cultural regeneration.
Robert Dusel
Auburn
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mark wrote on Nov 12, 2008 12:10 PM:
dan w wrote on Nov 12, 2008 3:16 AM: