Luxury or Necessity? Village Board Votes On Symphony Funding

Should taxpayer dollars be used to support a symphony orchestra that charges upwards of $39 for admission—but offers reduced or free tickets to students and seniors?

Ultimately, the village board’s 3-2 decision to donate $5,000 to the came down to that question. On Tuesday, the board voted on how to distribute $163,500 allocated in the fiscal year 2011-12 budget for funding local organizations that serve the community.

Following the recommendation of the administration and finance committee, the board voted unanimously to donate a total of $154,000 to seven local nonprofits and community groups, including , the and ’s .

But when it came to an additional $5,000 for the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, board members were of two minds.  

“In my view, an organization like Youth Services is ideal,” said Trustee Kathryn Ciesla. “They serve the entire community.”

In contrast, she said, the Northbrook Symphony is an offering for a select few.

“I think the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra is a luxury and I don’t think that it’s something that I should give taxpayer dollars to,” she said.

Trustee agreed that the village board should not fund the symphony, but for different reasons. Given budget troubles at the state level that could adversely affect the funding municipalities receive, he said he was hesitant to give away surplus funds rather than saving them.

But Israel disagreed with Trustee Ciesla when it came to the matter of whether the symphony was a luxury.

“I think it’s a necessity and think we as a whole should support it,” he said.

Trustee Todd Heller said he believed such support should extend to a monetary level. He cited the fact that some symphony funding comes from the state, and the state decides how much funding to give based on how much local support an entity gets. If the village were to withdraw its support from the symphony after donating the past few years, the symphony might also lose state money, he said.

Trustees A.C. Buehler III and James Karagianis also spoke up in favor of funding the symphony.  

“I think that the Northbrook Symphony speaks to the soul and culture and heart of Northbrook,” said Karagianis, who served as president pro tem for the meeting in President Sandra Frum’s absence. “They also showed us a sincere financial need.

Ultimately, Karagianis, Heller and Buehler voted for funding the symphony orchestra. Trustees Ciesla and Israel voted against it, while Trustee Michael Scolaro and President Frum were absent.

A complete breakdown of which community groups the village is funding this year can be found below:

Organization

Funding

Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook

$60,500

Senior Citizen Transportation

$45,000

Northbrook Fourth of July Association

$17,500

Northbrook Historical Society

$11,000

Northbrook Arts Commission

$10,000

Northbrook Citizens for Drug and Alcohol Awareness

$10,000

Glenbrook North Grad Night

$500

Northbrook Symphony Orchestra

$5,000

Total:

$159,500