TRENTON – State lawmakers on Thursday approved a plan to increase government spending on arts, culture, history and tourism programs by more than $ 70 million in the coming year, which is more than $ 50 million above what Governor Phil Murphy proposes in his program Budget plan.

The Senate Government, Betting, Tourism and Monument Preservation have unanimously approved a bill. S2986This would use all of the hotel and motel occupancy fee revenue for arts, historical heritage, and tourism purposes.

Representatives of these industries say there is a need to save this part of the economy from the effects of the pandemic, which has been particularly crippling due to capacity constraints.

“It will take a significant financial infusion to help all three industries fully recover from the effects of the pandemic,” said Ann Marie Miller, lawyer and public policy director at ArtPride New Jersey.

According to Miller, the art scene alone documented more than $ 100 million from March through October. She said groups are trying to reconfigure themselves with fewer staff and slowly plan reopening efforts, first if the weather allows in outdoor locations and then hopefully open indoors in the fall.

“Anecdotally, the most common comment I hear from friends and colleagues is their desire to go to a concert or play with other people, indoors, but also to travel. And we want travelers to come to New Jersey and experience all of our fortunes, ”Miller said.

“The effects of COVID on the arts, history and tourism will be felt in the years to come,” she said. “It won’t go away anytime soon.”

Murphy signed a bill in January 2020 Law Require at least 40% of hotel / motel occupancy tax revenue to be used for arts, history and tourism purposes. That law is followed in the current budget, Miller said.

Murphy’s proposed budget includes an additional $ 20.7 million for arts and culture projects, historical heritage projects, and tourism promotion through the State Department. This represents an increase of 59% over the current allocation of approximately $ 35 million.

This proposed budget would align spending with the minimum budget for the State Council of Art, Historical Commission, Cultural Trust, and Department of Travel and Tourism, as provided for in the 2020 Act, totaling $ 55.7 million.

Murphy’s budget predicts that the hotel / motel occupancy tax will bring in $ 107 million in fiscal year starting July, compared to $ 83.3 million in the current budget.

Vicki Clark, president of Cape May County’s Chamber of Commerce, said that 60% of Cape May County’s jobs depend on the arts, tourism, and historical destinations, and that having all hotel taxes dedicated to these causes will help recoup much of the lost revenue in the past year.

“As we get out of COVID, New Jersey and Cape May Counties are in dire need of that tax revenue,” said Clark.

Diane Wieland, director of Cape May County’s Department of Tourism, said arts and history organizations aren’t the only ones facing problems, but having few opportunities to generate income. She said that many counties have tax revenues for hotels and motels below what they were a decade ago.

“Art, history and tourism need every cent of what they generate in order to survive and recover,” said Wieland.

“Those who can survive a 50% business loss will take three to five years to fully recover,” she said. “The others will be lost.”

Michael Symons is the head of the State House bureau for New Jersey 101.5. Contact him at michael.symons@townsquaremedia.com.

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