The city of Columbus and Franklin County are forming a funding review advisory committee to analyze spending and new tax revenue streams for the arts, human services and tourism.
The 15-member committee will review changes in funding in those areas over the last decade and evaluate community impact.
The committee will also propose long-term strategies for public funding in those areas as federal funding dwindles and while local budgets are strained.
A similar committee was formed in 2011. Among its recommendations was a ticket tax on sports and entertainment events. Columbus City Council approved the 5% ticket tax that took effect in 2019 to raise money for the arts and Nationwide Arena improvements.
“As Columbus continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that our funding strategies keep pace with the changing needs of our community, especially in a post-COVID economy,” Sandy Doyle-Ahern, the committee's chair and president of EMH&T, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“This Committee is dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration and thoughtful solutions to ensure that essential community services are supported sustainably and equitably. We look forward to working together to develop recommendations that will serve our community’s diverse and dynamic needs,” Doyle-Ahern said.
The following community leaders were appointed by Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther in collaboration with Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and Franklin County Board of Commissioners President Erica Crawley.
The other members are:
- Trudy Bartley, associate vice president for local and community relations at The Ohio State University Office of Government Affairs
- Barbara Benham, executive vice president and chief public affairs officer at Huntington National Bank
- Darnita Bradley, senior manager of local government affairs & engagement at JobsOhio
- Tanny Crane, President & CEO of Crane Group
- Janelle Coleman, vice president of corporate philanthropy and community engagement at American Electric Power and president of the American Electric Power Foundation
- Luke Fedlam, partner at Amundsen Davis
- Jason Hall, CEO of the Columbus Partnership
- Traci Martinez, managing partner at Squire Patton Boggs
- Karen Morrison, senior vice president at OhioHealth and president of the OhioHealth Foundation
- Matt Scantland, CEO of AndHealth
- Jamie Shumaker, executive director of the Central Ohio Labor Council, AFL-CIO
- Janica Pierce Tucker, partner-in-charge of Taft Columbus
- Doug Ulman, board vice chair at Pelotonia
- Michael Young, lead pastor of City of Grace Church
The committee is scheduled to meet through October with recommendations expected to be released about the same time.
