February 12, 2003

Galveston City Council

Galveston City Council will discuss the "death sentence" for Galveston Historical Foundation that will be recommended by the Arts and Historic Preservation Board, the group charged with reviewing applications for funding of a portion of the hotel occupancy tax to non-profit organizations.

Rules of the board provide that because GHF turned in its annual report one week late, it must forfeit the last two years of its grant, amounting to $170,000.  The funds were to support the Dickens on the Strand Festival and the Historic Homes Tour.

At Wednesday's meeting of the board, Ted Deyo reminded Chair Buzz Elton that he had reported at the previous meeting that the GHF accountant was in the hospital with pneumonia, as a mitigating factor.  The minutes of the previous meeting were amended to include his statement.

"It's still not an excuse for being a week late," Deyo said. 

The board is an advisory committee and the final decision is up to the city council.

If the funds are forfeited, they will be available for redistribution to other non-profit organizations who have requested funding.

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