Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Rhode Island Creative and Cultural Economy Bonds, Question 5 (2014)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Question 5
Flag of Rhode Island.png
TypeAutomatic ballot referral
TopicBonds
StatusApproved Approveda
2014 measures
Seal of Rhode Island.svg.png
November 4
Question 1 Defeatedd
Question 2 Approveda
Question 3 Defeatedd
Question 4 Approveda
Question 5 Approveda
Question 6 Approveda
Question 7 Approveda
Polls

The Rhode Island Creative and Cultural Economy Bonds, Question 5 was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot in Rhode Island as a bond issue, where it was approved. The measure authorized the issuance of up to $35 million in bonds to fund capital improvement, preservation and renovation projects for public and nonprofit centers of culture and the arts, museums and historic sites.[1]

Election results

Below are the official, certified election results:

 Rhode Island Question 5
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 185,917 60.6%
No121,02639.4%

Election results via: Rhode Island Board of Elections

Text of measure

The official ballot text was as follows:[1]

“ Rhode Island Question 5 2014 ballot title.png[2] ”

Ballot summary

The ballot title appeared as follows:[1]

“
CREATIVE AND CULTURAL ECONOMY BONDS
$35,000,000
(Chapter 145 - Public Laws 2014)

Approval of this question will authorize the State of Rhode Island to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes in an amount not to exceed thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) to fund capital improvement, preservation and renovation projects for public and nonprofit artistic, performance centers, historic sites, museums and cultural art centers located throughout the State of Rhode Island, to be allotted as follows:

(a) Cultural Arts and the Economy Grant Program $30,000,000

Provides funds for 1:1 matching grants for a new Cultural Arts and the Economy Grant program to be administered by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts for capital improvement, preservation and renovation projects for public and nonprofit artistic, performance centers and cultural art centers located throughout the State of Rhode Island.

1. Trinity Repertory Company $4,647,750
For the Lederer Theater and the Pell Chafee Performance Center, both in Providence, used for performance facilities, educational instruction, production and administration, including reimbursements of advances of up to $1,500,000 expended for ongoing fire code upgrades.
2. Rhode Island Philharmonic $2,390,250
For the Carter Center for Music Education and Performance in East Providence, used for music teaching, learning, performance and administration.
3. Newport Performing Arts Center $4,216,800
For the Opera House in Newport for use as a multi-cultural performing arts and educational facility.
4. United Theater/Westerly Land Trust $2,369,440
For the United Theater in Westerly for use as space for performing arts, fine arts showcase, arts instruction, cinema, public television station and program administration.
5. The Chorus of Westerly $1,054,200
For the George Kent Performance Hall in Westerly for music and arts performance, teaching and rehearsal space, administrative and community function space.
6. The Stadium Theater Conservatory in Woonsocket $2,108,400
For set construction, costuming, rehearsal, voice, acting and dance studios and administrative spaces.
7. 2nd Story Theater $1,054,200
For performance venues in Warren, including concessions studio/classroom space, set construction shop and administrative offices.
8. AS220 $2,108,400
For AS220’s facilities in Providence used for performing arts, dance studio, youth and adult education, gallery and artist live/work space.
9. WaterFire Providence $3,162,600
To develop a 27,000 square foot historic warehouse in the Valley/Olneyville neighborhood into its headquarters, multi-use community arts center, visitor center, education center and arts and creative industries incubator.
10. Other funds to be allocated by RISCA $6,887,960
For 1:1 matching grants to be allocated by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts to 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural organizations which lease or own their performance space, and for RISCA’s expenses in administering the program. In awarding such grants RISCA shall take into account financial need, the availability or actual expenditure of matching funds for the projects, available gifts or grants for projects, the amount of square footage to be improved, the geographical location and characteristics of audiences benefitted.

(b) State Preservation Grants Program $5,000,000

Provide funds to cities, towns and nonprofit organizations to preserve, renovate and improve public and nonprofit historic sites, museums, and cultural art centers located in historic structures in the State of Rhode Island to be administered by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission. [2]

”

Support

RIQ52014.png

The group Yes on 5 formed to advocate for the passage of Question 5.[3]

Supporters

The following groups and organizations supported the approval of Question 5:[3]

  • Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce[4]
  • 2nd Story Theatre
  • Art League of Rhode Island
  • Artists' Exchange & Theatre 82
  • AS220
  • Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association
  • Blackstone River Theatre
  • Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
  • Bristol Theatre Company
  • Chorus Of Westerly
  • Community MusicWorks
  • Daydream Theatre Company
  • Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects
  • Epic Theatre Company
  • Festival Ballet Providence
  • FLICKERS: Rhode Island International Film Festival
  • Find Your Cool
  • Firehouse Theater
  • FirstWorks
  • Five Main
  • Newport Film Society & Arts Collaborative
  • Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
  • Grow Smart Rhode Island
  • Imago Foundation for the Arts
  • Island Moving Co.
  • Mixed Magic Theatre
  • Motif Magazine
  • Newport Children's Theatre
  • Newport Historical Society
  • Newport Performing Arts Center
  • Ocean State Theatre Company
  • Old Slater Mill Association
  • Olneyville Housing Corporation
  • Newport Opera House
  • Pettaquamscutt Historical Society
  • Preserve Rhode Island
  • Providence Performing Arts Center
  • Providence Preservation Society
  • Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Puerto Rican Institute for Arts and Advocacy
  • Renaissance City Theatre, Inc. of The Granite Theatre
  • Rhode Island Music Education Association
  • Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School
  • RI Building and Construction Trades Council
  • RISD Museum
  • Riverzedge Arts/ELO Woonsocket
  • Rotary Club of Woonsocket
  • Secret Garden Tours
  • Social Enterprise Greenhouse
  • Stadium Theatre Foundation
  • Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theatre
  • The Steel Yard
  • Trinity Repertory Company
  • United Theatre
  • Veterans Memorial Auditorium Foundation
  • Westerly Memorial and Library Association
  • The Westerly Regional Arts Partnership
  • The Wilbury Theatre Group
  • WaterFire Providence
  • Western Rhode Island Civic Historical Society

Arguments

  • Simon Holt, executive director of the United Theatre, said, “We’ve been talking about the idea of a vibrant downtown Westerly for years, a place populated with art and artists, restaurants and shopkeepers. This would go a long way to strengthen the United and help give a strong sense of the future.” He also added that the theatre, along with the other facilities that would receive funding, are “key economic engines” for local economies and have “a solid track record of creating jobs and generating tax revenue.”[5]

HB 7133 "Yes" votes

The following members of the Rhode Island General Assembly voted in favor of placing this measure on the ballot.[6][7]

Note: A yes vote on HB 7133 merely referred the question to voters and did not necessarily mean these legislators approved of the stipulations laid out in Question 5.

House

The following representatives voted in favor of HB 7133:

Senate

The following state senators voted in favor of HB 7133:

Campaign contributions

Total campaign cash Campaign Finance Ballotpedia.png
as of November 21, 2014
Category:Ballot measure endorsements Support: $146,900
Circle thumbs down.png Opposition: $0

As of November 21, 2014, one campaign organization supporting Question 5 had received an aggregate total of $146,900 in contributions.[8]

PAC info:

PAC/Ballot measure group Amount raised Amount spent
Rhode Island Coalition for Arts & Preservation $146,900 $115,315
Total $146,900 $115,315

Top contributors:

Donor Amount
2nd Story Theatre $15,000
AS220 $15,000
Newport Performing Arts Center $15,000
R.I. Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School $15,000
Stadium Theatre $15,000
Trinity Repertory Company $15,000
United Theatre/Westerly Land Trust $15,000
WaterFire Providence $15,000

Opposition

Arguments

According to a study by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, the four approved bond questions on the 2014 general election ballot could actually cost taxpayers approximately $400 million when interest payments are accounted for. Interest payments on the four bond proposals, which together total $248 million, could cost taxpayers an additional $117 to $150 million over a 20-year period, assuming an estimated interest rate of 4 to 5 percent.[9] The full study can be read here.

HB 7133 "No" votes

The following members of the Rhode Island General Assembly voted against placing this measure on the ballot.[6][7]

Note: A no vote on HB 7133 meant that a legislator did not want to refer the question to voters and did not necessarily mean these legislators disapproved of the stipulations laid out in Question 5.

House

The following representatives voted against HB 7133:

Senate

The following state senators voted against HB 7133:

Media editorial positions

See also: Endorsements of Rhode Island ballot measures, 2014

Support

  • The Westerly Sun said,
“ Question 5 is the Creative and Cultural Economy bonds totaling up to $35 million. If approved by voters, nine arts organizations across the state, including two here, are designated to receive specific funding requests — The Chorus of Westerly is slated to get $1,054,200 and the United Theatre restoration effort $2,369,440. An additional $6.9 million will be set aside as a pool of grant money for other groups, from the Granite Theatre to the historic Westerly Armory locally.

Our arts community has a proven track record and has survived this ugly economy. The vibrant nightlife fostered by our many quality restaurants and upscale bars is complementary to the arts community and together they have created their own economic engine. Question 5 deserves a yes vote.[2]

”
—Westerly Sun[10]
  • The Providence Journal said,
“ Culture and the arts are an essential part of Rhode Island’s efforts to become a jewel of the Northeast, and they will more than pay for themselves as our new political leaders move the state forward economically. We strongly recommend a yes vote on Question 5.[2] ”
—Providence Journal[11]

Path to the ballot

Question 5 was introduced into the Rhode Island Legislature as House Bill 7133. The bill was related to appropriations in general and also included acts authorizing Questions 4, 6 and 7.[12] Therefore, Rhode Island Questions 4, 5, 6 and 7 were all included on the general election ballot following the passage of HB 7133. The bill was approved in the Rhode Island House of Representatives on June 13, 2014, and in the Rhode Island Senate on June 16, 2014. The governor signed the bill on June 19, 2014.[13]

House vote

June 13, 2014 House vote[14]

Rhode Island HB 7133 House Vote
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 63 84.00%
No1216.00%

Senate vote

June 16, 2014 Senate vote[7]

Rhode Island HB 7133 Senate Vote
ResultVotesPercentage
Approveda Yes 32 86.49%
No513.51%

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rhode Island Secretary of State, "Rhode Island Voter Information Handbook 2014," accessed September 24, 2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Yes on 5, "About Question 5," accessed October 21, 2014
  4. ↑ Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, "Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce to Support RI Bond Measures," September 19, 2014
  5. ↑ The Westerly Sun, "R.I. bond question would help local arts," September 22, 2014
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 OpenStates.org, "House Vote on HB 7133 (Jun 13, 2014)," accessed October 21, 2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Rhode Island Legislature, "Senate Vote," accessed September 24, 2014
  8. ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections, "Other Filings," accessed December 7, 2014
  9. ↑ WPRI.com, "Study: Bond questions could cost RI nearly $400M," October 14, 2014
  10. ↑ Westerly Sun, "Editorial: Yes to roads, arts, the environment," November 1, 2014
  11. ↑ Providence Journal, "Yes on Question 5," October 27, 2014
  12. ↑ Rhode Island Legislature, "House Bill 7133," accessed September 24, 2014
  13. ↑ Rhode Island Legislature, "HB 7133 Bill History," accessed September 24, 2014
  14. ↑ Rhode Island Legislature, "House Vote," accessed September 24, 2014
v • e
2014 ballot measures
I&R States
BallotMeasureFinal badge.png
Non I&R States
Political topics
Other
Flag of Rhode Island
v • e
State of Rhode Island
Providence (capital)
Elections

What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

Government

Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Rhode_Island_Creative_and_Cultural_Economy_Bonds,_Question_5_(2014)&oldid=10259306"