Here is some background and responses I received from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission when I inquired about who they were, what they were involved with, and potential decisions on COSI if the levy fails:
1. You requested some general background and history on the Commission.
The Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission is a state agency that oversees capital improvement funds appropriated by the General Assembly and Governor for planning, construction, renovation and expansion projects at Ohio's theaters, museums, arts education facilities, historical sites and publicly-owned professional sports venues.
The Commission was established in 1988 as the Ohio Arts Facilities Commission, through chapter 3383 of the Ohio Revised Code. As indicated by the name, our focus then was only on arts facilities. Through the years, our responsibilities have been increased by the General Assembly to include funding oversight for projects at science and technology museums, local historical facilities, state historical sites and professional sports venues. This led to a 1996 change in our name to the Ohio Arts & Sports Facilities Commission, and later, in 2004, to the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission to better fit our mission and scope.
The General Assembly and Governor assign projects to the Commission in the state's biennial capital improvements bills. Since 1988, $485 million has been appropriated for 250 projects of various sizes and complexities, which are spread among 65 Ohio counties.
The Commission does not have discretionary control over decisions regarding capital funds. Likewise, the Commission does not play a formal role in deciding which projects to fund, but can assist communities and state officials in determining project eligibility upon request. Rather, our role is to establish and implement operational policies and oversight mechanisms to ensure that the state resources entrusted to our care are spent properly. We protect state interests by verifying that each project has significant community support and a solid management plan.
After projects are assigned to the Commission, our staff works with communities and project sponsors to assist them through the required processes. These include project management assistance, funding administration and contract oversight. Careful planning and supervision by the Commission help maximize the impact of the state's investment by ensuring the projects, once completed, will operate successfully. The Commission is not involved with day-to-day operations at our partner facilities, but we do ensure that taxpayer-funded bonds deliver full value to the public. We have a long-term interest in ensuring the health of the organizations and facilities for at least 15 years after the capital projects are complete, while the bonds are being paid off.
2. You requested a list of projects in Toledo – below is a list of the Commission Projects in Lucas County.
COSI Toledo
Fallen Timbers Monument (operated by Ohio Historical Society)
Fifth Third Field
Lucas County Multi-Purpose Ice Arena
Marina District Amphitheatre and Related Development
Maumee Valley Historical Society
Ohio Theatre – Toledo
Toledo Art Museum Glass Pavilion
Valentine Theatre
3. You asked who pays for the bonds at COSI Toledo.
All of the bonds the Commission uses for facility improvements are paid for by the State of Ohio.
4. You inquired about decisions on the future of COSI Toledo if the levy fails.
The Commission is hopeful that the current efforts of the Toledo community will result in a reopening of COSI Toledo, because science and technology education is critical to success in the new economy. If the levy fails, the city (which owns the facility) and the Commission (which has a lease until 2033) will discuss the future use for the facility.
With regard to exhibits, the Commission, at its May 20 board meeting, voted to proceed with identifying qualified non-profit organizations to which the exhibits could be distributed through a request for proposals, and distribute the exhibits to the selected organizations if the levy fails or does not appear on the November ballot.
This sort of disclosure makes it clear that these kind of agencies are pushing ahead 100% in full defiance of the economic collapse of the Toledo area.
Why didn't the "fiscal conservatives" in the previous Republican administration in Columbus give the axe to these sorts of money-wasting programs?
Anyway, if this commission is actually going to get rid of those exhibits once the levy fails, then it's incumbent upon me to make sure that levy fails. Once the exhibits are GONE, then the money-wasting Liberals behind all this crap will have a far larger problem in re-opening COSI.
And for those questioning all this, COSI should remain closed since as an entertainment venue it could not support itself. Welfare is bad. Keep repeating that until you fucking understand it.
P.S. Somebody needs to tell this commission that "science and technology education" is the purview of the schools, not some business or NPO like COSI.