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, 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. Commissioner Nick Maddox says the change is a compromise that will keep COCA functioning.
“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,” he said.
COCA currently oversees about 2 million dollars annually in taxpayer-funded grant programs. The commission voted 6-1 in favor of the proposed changes at the budget workshop Tuesday, but the plan will still have to get final approval at an upcoming public hearing.
