Politics & Government

Fine Art Center, Historical Museum Request $800,000 From City

City Manager Rob DiSpirito packages improvements requiring a $800,000 commitment to the Dunedin Fine Art Center and the Dunedin Historical Museum.

The city manager pitched a plan last week during a workshop to invest about $800,000 in the Dunedin Historical Society and the Dunedin Fine Art Center, while using code enforcement fines to spruce up distressed properties.

It is meant to be "broad-based" and "inclusive" alternative to economic development, he said.  

Rob DiSpirito's Quality of Life Initiative calls for:

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  • Using code enforcement fines to help make repairs to and repaint private homes in distressed neighborhoods. 
  • Giving $200,000 to the Dunedin Historical Society and Museum for an 800-square-foot expansion and rehabilitation. 
  • Giving $500,000 to the Dunedin Fine Art Center to match a "rare grant opportunity" for a planned expansion of its West Wing. 
  • Alotting $100,000 toward Blatchley House improvements. The house is slated to be used as a future coastal and environmental education center at Weaver Park. The city is already allocating $46,000 over the next two consecutive years.

The $500,000 committment to the Dunedin Fine Art Center is time sensitive. The organization needs to have a match by July 2013. 

"Interest rates are at an all-time low, so borrowing to fund these construction costs will never be as affordable as it is today," DiSpirito said.

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The city commission votes Thursday on the final 2013 budget, which DiSpirito cut by 10 positions. 

DiSpirito threw out a few possible financing options. He said the city could either take out a 20-year loan, resulting in $60,000 to $70,000 in annual debt payments or use part of the potential $1 million in bond re-financing savings, none of which would result in raising taxes or cutting public services, he said. 


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