Leon County Commissioners want a bigger say in how the Council on Culture and Arts, or COCA, spends local tourist development dollars.
Under a plan given initial approval by the commission Tuesday with a 6-1 vote (Proctor against), COCA will continue to administer arts and cultural grants funded by the county, but how those dollars are doled out will be determined by the Leon commissioners every year during the budgeting process.
The move comes as the commission recently considered giving control of the entire grant process to the county’s tourist development arm. Commissioners describe the new approach as a “compromise” between the sole administrator model (current), where COCA decided all grant distributions and the in-house model, which would have placed COCA under the County’s Division of Tourism, potentially saving $213,000 but reducing COCA’s independence.
“When I get in situations like this. This is exactly where I end up. Everybody gives a little bit, we get a compromise, we can move forward, but nobody’s hurt too bad to where it’s not working as for our community,” Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox said.
The county says COCA’s agency status and funding level are unchanged.
Supporters say the model brings consistency similar to other county partnerships (e.g., Community Human Service Partnership) and improves stewardship of taxpayer dollars. However, COCA Executive Director Kathleen Spehar has expressed worries about the impact on drawing down National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants, though the county says COCA will still be eligible WTXL ABC 27.
The ordinance to implement the change must pass with at least 5/7 votes after a public hearing.
The Council on Culture & Arts is a non-profit organization serving as the umbrella agency for arts and culture in Florida’s capital area, including Leon County Tallahassee Arts Guide. It was established in 1985 to provide a centralized voice and support system for the region’s arts and cultural sector.
COCA is not a government entity but works closely with the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, the state, and local school districts as a cultural industry partner. The group currently oversees $2 million in grant programs anually to promote and support the arts, ensure equitable access to creative opportunities, and advocate for the cultural sector’s economic and social value.
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