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DODGE CITY —
A local lawmaker has introduced a measure designed to allow private citizens to help fund the arts in Kansas.
Rep. Brian Weber, R-Dodge City, co-sponsored HB 2454, which was introduced recently in the Kansas House.
The bill would provide a check-off for the Kansas Arts Commission on the Kansas income tax form. If Kansas taxpayers wish to donate private money in addition to their tax liability or from a designated refund, they can give the money to the arts commission in increments of $1, $5, $10 or an amount specified by the donor, according to a press release from Weber's office.
“I support the arts, and I gained greater appreciation for the arts while serving on the board of directors for the Depot Theater Company,” Weber said in the news release. “I hope this will provide yet another opportunity for Kansans to support the arts.”
Recalling his experiences in orchestra, forensics, debate and choir at Dodge City High School and in college, Weber said he already knew the value of the arts to young people. "But, my experience at the Depot helped me literally see the numbers behind trying to make an organization like that work in the state of Kansas and reinforced the importance of public/private partnerships," Weber said in a phone interview Tuesday.
The Kansas income tax form currently has four programs that taxpayers can check to donate: the Chickadee Check-off, the Senior Citizen Meals on Wheels Contribution Program, the Breast Cancer Research Fund and the Military Emergency Relief Fund.
"I hope this checkoff, once it's approved, will be widely publicized. It won't fully replace the funding that was cut from the arts commission, but it will help," Weber said.
According to Weber, other checkoff ideas are being discussed, but there is not a lot of support for adding a large number of them at this time.
A local lawmaker has introduced a measure designed to allow private citizens to help fund the arts in Kansas.
Rep. Brian Weber, R-Dodge City, co-sponsored HB 2454, which was introduced recently in the Kansas House.
The bill would provide a check-off for the Kansas Arts Commission on the Kansas income tax form. If Kansas taxpayers wish to donate private money in addition to their tax liability or from a designated refund, they can give the money to the arts commission in increments of $1, $5, $10 or an amount specified by the donor, according to a press release from Weber's office.
“I support the arts, and I gained greater appreciation for the arts while serving on the board of directors for the Depot Theater Company,” Weber said in the news release. “I hope this will provide yet another opportunity for Kansans to support the arts.”
Recalling his experiences in orchestra, forensics, debate and choir at Dodge City High School and in college, Weber said he already knew the value of the arts to young people. "But, my experience at the Depot helped me literally see the numbers behind trying to make an organization like that work in the state of Kansas and reinforced the importance of public/private partnerships," Weber said in a phone interview Tuesday.
The Kansas income tax form currently has four programs that taxpayers can check to donate: the Chickadee Check-off, the Senior Citizen Meals on Wheels Contribution Program, the Breast Cancer Research Fund and the Military Emergency Relief Fund.
"I hope this checkoff, once it's approved, will be widely publicized. It won't fully replace the funding that was cut from the arts commission, but it will help," Weber said.
According to Weber, other checkoff ideas are being discussed, but there is not a lot of support for adding a large number of them at this time.
