WILMINGTON — An added source of revenue for school arts funding via a City of Wilmington and New Hanover County Schools partnership could be dead on arrival after some city council members indicate their disfavor for it.
New Hanover County Schools and the city have confirmed leaders of both entities have discussed implementation of a surcharge on events within city venues — to include Live Oak Bank Pavilion, Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, Thalian Hall and the Wilmington Convention Center. The fee would go toward arts funding in the school district.
“I’m hoping that we as a school district can come together with the city to be creative in contributing funding for NHCS Arts to help keep this much-needed element of a child’s education firmly continuing and even exceeding what we’ve ever done before, because it’s doing what’s right for our kids,” school board member Pat Bradford wrote in an email to Port City Daily.
New Hanover County Schools has experienced several years of tight budgets and declining enrollment, sending district leadership searching for funding sources outside the traditional streams it receives from the county, state and federal governments.
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Of the four council members who responded to Port City Daily’s request for comment on the potential partnership, David Joyner, Salette Andrews and Cassidy Santaguida expressed concern about an additional fee.
“I am interested in finding ways that the city can support educational programs in New Hanover County Schools, specifically supplementary programs at schools within the city limits,” Santaguida said. “However, at this time I’m not in favor of a ticket surcharge program.”
Santaguida added city staff provided council an initial analysis indicating a ticket surcharge program “wouldn’t generate much revenue.” Port City Daily asked for this analysis but was directed to submit a public records request. It was submitted on Thursday and has yet to be filled.
The City of Wilmington already collects $2 per ticket for Live Nation events at Live Oak Bank Pavilion and the Greenfield Amphitheater; $1 goes to the general fund, and $1 is collected as committed revenue for landscape maintenance/improvements. Non-Live Nation events at Riverfront Park retrieve $1 a ticket for landscape and maintenance from commercial entities and 50 cents a ticket from nonprofits.
An additional surcharge would need to be approved by council and agreed to in contract negotiations with the venue operators, including Live Nation. Council could also direct a portion of the proceeds from its current fees to New Hanover County Schools.
According to Bradford, she, colleague Josie Barnhart and Superintendent Chris Barnes have had one-on-one discussions with city staff and council members, including City Manager Becky Hawke and Chief of Staff Dennis LaCaria. Though, she attributed the idea for a surcharge to John Hinnant, business owner and New Hanover County GOP chair who serves with Bradford on the district’s finance, capital and bond committee.
Barnhart told Port City Daily she has also raised the idea of a “round-up” program where patrons can choose to fill in the cents to the nearest dollar and the change could go toward the arts.
The next step in Bradford’s view would be for Superintendent Barnes to draft a proposal for the city’s consideration, though she noted he has been busy educating the public on the $320.5-million school bond on this November’s ballot.
When Port City Daily reached out to the district for more information on the potential city partnership, a spokesperson also pointed to the bond.
“Our primary focus has been on the bond referendum, so we haven’t yet had an opportunity to explore this additional revenue option in depth,” Anita Baggie wrote in an email. “We plan to evaluate it in the coming months to determine its feasibility and whether it presents a viable opportunity for success.”
Port City Daily asked council if they would support an additional surcharge; council members Joyner, Andrews Santaguida all said they believe the arts are a valuable part of public education, though the city should not serve as a substitute for funding it should have received elsewhere — the county commission and North Carolina General Assembly.
“The city has never been the funding source for the school board, and I do not believe a new ticket surcharge is the right way to address the school board’s unmet funding requests,” Joyner said.
The school board, along with state legislators, has been outspoken in its disagreement with the state’s allotment formula, which only provides staff funding based on how many students there are. It doesn’t calculate the various needs of different student populations, particularly exceptional children, or how sta are spread across a district’s facilities.
As for the county commissioners, they have been increasing the school district’s operating budget — this year by 4% — for the last several years, despite the district’s declining enrollment.
Thus, Superintendent Barnes maintains the district still operates at a “subsistence” level, meaning it has just enough funding for its operations. Without the county’s continued supplement, the district would be forced to cut staffing to state standards, which its leaders see as insufficient.
One of the staffing groups affected could be arts teachers; the district already shares some of these elective teachers across schools. At a town hall hosted by the board last month, Barnes noted the orchestra teaching positions are not funded by the state with “any stretch of the imagination” and though he has no intention of getting rid of them, how they will continue to be paid for is uncertain.
Council member Andrews told Port City Daily the city has its own funding woes, especially when it comes to “essential programs and services, including those addressing homelessness, which would be more appropriately addressed through a regional approach.”
Bradford alluded to the city’s recent tax increase (most of which went to implementing a “livable wage” philosophy), suggesting the city could contribute beyond the four school resource officers it pays for as many schools are within city limits.
Council member JC Lyle didn’t shut down the ticket surcharge idea.
“We don’t have a specific proposal to vote on yet,” she wrote. “I’ll wait for staff to properly vet this opportunity and put something on our agenda to comment on my support for it.”
She did clarify she thought any money the city dedicated to schools should only go toward those within city limits and “ideally increasing access to the arts in schools that don’t already have strong programs or parent associations that raise money for them.”
Mayor Bill Saffo, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Spears and council member Chakema Clinton-Quintana did not respond to Port City Daily’s questions by press.
A city spokesperson shared city leadership has been in communication with Barnes and anticipates further staff-level conversations in the future.
“Those conversations aren’t limited to potential funding; the City is also exploring other ways to partner with the school district, including opportunities to connect students with internships, career and technical education, and potential career pathways in public safety and other areas of public service,” Amy Willis wrote in an email.
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