To the History Community,

As of April 9, 2008 Treasury has collected $53.1M from the hotel/motel taxes, the funds that under formula support the grants programs for the Arts, Cultural Trust, Historical Commission and Travel and Tourism. Last year this time, they had $50 m on the books, so the lesson is clear. The tax, already being collected, is definitely keeping up with and may exceed the revenue projections for the 2008 funding, and they certainly do not warrant any reduction in the grant funds from a dedicated tax going forward into the FY'09 budget.

The Advocates for New Jersey History had reported earlier that although the tax revenue has increased each year, the funding and the percentage of the total of that dedicated tax made available to the Arts, Culture and History communities is declining. Declining even though the groups that rallied to pass the tax, the, travel and tourism and league of municipalities, folks have continued to support the dedicated tax deal.

In particular, members of the Assembly budget committee have publicly stated that a "deal is a deal" and that if revenue from the dedicated tax fell, then the history community should accept that decline and not complain. Well, if the "deal is a deal" then there is no reason to reduce the funding in FY'09 for there is no revenue shortfall in this dedicated tax, unlike the general budget. They need to hear that message.

They should also hear that the history community is not complaining--we are explaining that we can't do our job of generaing revenue and improving the quality of life in New Jersey if the sole funding source for the private sector general operating support is reduced arbitrarily. The "deal" was for the public good and not to enrich the history community at the public's expense. WE are striving and succeeding in helping the public with precious little support, support which we generate from increased taxes of which we get the smallest part.


Thank you,


Dr. David A. Cowell
President, the Advocates for New Jersey History

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