Last week, Los Angeles's City Council adopted the Mayor's proposed budget after extensive budget committee hearings with department heads to better understand the implications of the Mayor's funding proposals.  As previously reported, the budget included an incremental increase in funding to the Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Los Angeles's primary grantor for arts and culture-related projects.

This was Mayor Villaraigosa's last budget proposal for the city council.  The termed-out mayor has just weeks left in his tenure as the city's leading elected official.  However, crafting the city's proposed budget remains one of his most critical duties and, this year, one of his crowning accomplishments.

"I am happy the City Council has approved my proposed budget, which increases LA's investment in arts and culture," said Mr. Villaragoisa.  "Los Angeles is the creative capital of the world, and the role of the arts in our city is critical.  I thank the council for recognizing this and increasing DCA funding."

The main source of funding for grants from Department of Cultural Affairs is the city's Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), funds collected as a percentage of hotel charges.  TOT monies are collected by hotels on behalf of the city to fund many kinds of services that often attract visitors to the city.  DCA typically receives close to 1% of the TOT funds collected.

In July, Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti will assume control of the Mayor's office.  While Mr. Villaraigosa's next steps aren't publicly known, Arts for LA thanks him for his many years of service to the city and our region and for his support of arts and culture throughout Los Angeles.