Is Hamilton's arts scene worth paying $3 more in taxes?

Would you pay $3 more in taxes per year to help Hamilton's arts sector?

City councillors are grappling with exactly that question as they hammer out the 2015 budget process — and not everyone's answer is yes.

Some say the arts are important for economic development and the "spiritual" nature of the city. Others say the number of people waiting for services such as affordable housing might be a greater need.

But after a brief discussion Friday, the city budget "enhancements" still contain a $500,000 line item for more grants for the arts.

'I think is absolutely a need and I'm glad to see a bunch of the councillors acknowledge that.'- Stephanie Veigh, Hamilton Arts Council

Everyone but Coun. Judi Partridge agreed to keep considering the money, saying the arts are important to Hamilton's economy and future.

But Coun. Terry Whitehead of Ward 8 also wondered if half a million might be better spent elsewhere. If the budget is divided into needs and wants, he said, shelter might be greater.

"We have 14,000 people waiting for homes and additional services we can't provide," he said. "We have a huge deficit in housing."

The Strategic Municipal Investment in the Arts is a $500,000 expenditure that would mean more funding for arts organizations. It's part of the City Enrichment Fund, which council approved last summer.

Several organizations are hanging by a thread, said Stephanie Veigh, executive director of the Hamilton Arts Council.

"I think is absolutely a need and I'm glad to see a bunch of the councillors acknowledge that."

In 2013, a report from a city task force for the arts showed that Hamilton artists made about $27,000 per year in 2011, 30 per cent of which comes from practising their art.

'It's more empirical fact than argument that funding for the arts is good for the economy.'- Coun. Aidan Johnson

It also showed that Hamilton funds the arts at a rate of $3.08 per capita compared to cities such as Ottawa $10.10), Winnipeg ($7.51), Waterloo ($4.73) and Windsor ($3.86).

But the new arts funding is a heavy weight on an operating budget that stands at a 4.4-per cent increase, or about $135 per household. That percentage will likely decrease before the final version is passed in April. This happens in part by eliminating items on the enhancements list, which accounts for 0.6 per cent of the increase, said finance head Mike Zegarac.

The budget increase is particularly painful in Ward 1, where reassessments have been a blow to average families, said Coun. Aidan Johnson.

But he supported keeping the arts program on the list on Friday.

"It's more empirical fact than argument that funding for the arts is good for the economy," he said.

And while that can be said for a lot of subjects, he said, "something that puts it in another category is the spiritual aspect of funding for the arts."

Here are some other items on the enhancements list:

$219,000 to have a permanent waterfront office to manage the implementation of the west harbour plan, particularly leading to the commercial and residential development of Piers 7 and 8.
$118,000 for another staff member for the Global Hamilton office and immigrant attraction action plan, which draws and keeps immigrant entrepreneurs in Hamilton.
$2.3 million for 31 more paramedics and 20 ambulances, in part to even out response times in Hamilton.

Councillors will discuss the arts funding and other enhancements at subsequent budget meetings. The next schedule meetings are March 6 and 10.