City to approve Buskirk funds

Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez plans to invest $1.2 million into the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, a downtown landmark that has been financially beleaguered for the past few years. The mayor proposes using tax money to pay off the theater's debt.\nAfter a three-year period, the city would either own the theater or reserve to right to manage it for a nominal fee. The city council is expected to give final approval to the controversial proposal next Wednesday.\n"It has the support to pass," said Council President Patricia Cole, D-District I. "And I've heard mostly positive things from my constituents."\nFernandez has offered to put up about $600,000 from the city's general fund, or main checking account. The expenditure is being considered as part of the 2001 budget. \nThe remaining money would come from tax increment financing, or property taxes culled from downtown businesses. Fernandez said the subsidy -- which has the support of downtown merchants -- is intended to promote the arts as a tourist attraction and maintain Bloomington's quality of life.\n"The arts are an important part of this economy," he said. "A study the tourism center did in 1996 found that the arts bring in $20 million each year, which I would call a solid return. This is a solid investment that supports our local cultural economy -- and it also enriches lives."\nAlthough it's a flashpoint of heated debate, the mayor's proposal easily passed the city council's preliminary hearing with a 7-1-1 vote. Councilman Jason Banach, R-District II, dissented, while Councilman David Sabbagh, R-District V, abstained.\nWhile he's a longtime supporter of the arts, Banach said he doesn't feel that the project makes much economic sense.\n"I don't know how much I buy into the economics," he said. "I think we've gone overboard trying to sugarcoat a lot of this. It's being touted as a low-cost, low-risk investment. If that were true, there would be people fighting to buy the place."\nSabbagh said Wednesday that he still hasn't made up his mind.\n"I needed more financial information," he said. "And I suppose I still need more financial information."\nLocal conservatives have decried the subsidy as an inappropriate use of taxpayer money.\n"If ticket sales don't maintain the venue, taxpayers shouldn't be coerced to pay for it," said Jim Billingsley, president of the Monroe County Taxpayers Association, a government watchdog group. "Contrary to what the mayor may think, this isn't New York City or Chicago... or even Indianapolis. \n"It's sad to say, but this community can't support such a venue." \nThe Buskirk-Chumley, which serves as a venue for music and other performing arts, rests at the location of the historic Indiana Theater. The Kerasotes movie theater chain bought the venue in the mid-1970s and donated it to the Bloomington Area Arts Council after it opened its College Mall location.\nThe arts council embarked on a $3.2 million renovation project three years ago to restore a balcony and make other interior improvements. With major donor support, the council paid off $2 million in debt but since has been unable to break even.\nThe city plans on contracting the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation to manage the theater for the next three years. Fernandez, who has no plans to run for re-election, said he hopes the next city administration will hire an outside agency to run the theater.