Leonardo Asks County to Extend Earmark Until Next Year

Dec 16, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Today, the Leonardo will ask Salt Lake County to give it five more months to satisfy the conditions tied to a $400,000 grant the county awarded it last year. Because the money went unclaimed this year, the funds were put back in the county's general fund. Councilman Joe Hatch says the county will consider holding onto the money until June, but the museum must prove that it's solvent.

"If they make a compelling case that they have a real opportunity to do this by June 1, and that Salt Lake City is serious, I'd say let's give them a chance. I don't want to do it, though, if it is not possible. If it doesn't look like it's going to happen, why waste our time with it."

The grant was subject to a condition: The Leonardo would receive the grant when Salt Lake City released a $10 million voter-approved bond. That hasn't happened yet. And the Leonardo is currently undergoing a third-party review to determine if it will actually get the bond money at all. Results from that review are expected by the end of next month. Leonardo spokeswoman Lisa Davis says the museum is making progress with the city.

"That's something, again, that we're working on a daily basis with the city on helping to make happen. We have a memorandum of understanding with the city and we are working through each one of those points. They have an independent consultant that is reviewing the exhibits and programs plan, the business plan and that process is well underway and moving along very nicely."

However, even if the Leonardo is successful, the grant could still be reduced by 10 percent. Councilman Hatch says it likely would be subject to the same across-the-board cut other outside grant programs sustained during this year's county-wide budget cuts.

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