It can’t be much fun to be a governor or a mayor these days. States and cities are dealing with staggering deficits, and they are being forced to slash their budgets to a painful degree.

Mayor Jerry Abramson just released his proposed budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year, and it seems like he’s making the best of a bad economic situation. The top priority for any local government is public safety, and the mayor’s budget reflects that.

The proposed budget maintains the current strength of the police force with two recruit classes, and it invests $5.6 million in new police cars, body armor and equipment such as in-car computers and cameras.

But in times like these, no government can do all of the things it would like to do. Unfortunately, Metro Government will not be able to support the arts at the levels it has in previous years.

Let me give you a couple of examples. Last year, local government set aside $300,000 for the Fund for the Arts, but this year, the fund may receive only $125,000.

And last year, the city allotted $75,000 to Kentucky Public Radio, but they have zero allocated in this year’s budget.

When the private sector is squeezed just as badly as the public sector, where will these arts groups turn to make up the difference?

I asked Allan Cowen, the very talented head of the Fund for the Arts, what these cuts will mean to that organization.

“Obviously, the significant reductions in government support over the last three years heavily impact the Fund for the Arts’ ability to provide arts services and programs to the Louisville community,” Cowen said.

“Given the proposed city budget, we expect that we will have to reduce the amount and number of education grants, which currently support arts programming at more than 200 schools throughout the region by at least 50 percent in the coming year” he said.

Cowen added that “because of the restricted nature of Fund for the Arts dollars, the ability to provide important grants to non-member groups, such as the River City Drum Corps and Blue Apple Players, will unfortunately have to be scaled back this year.”

Our wonderful arts scene in Louisville is one thing that makes this such a special place to live.  This is one year when our arts groups really need our help, so we hope you’ll pitch in if you’re able.

When in Rome
Life on the campaign trail can be full of exotic surprises. Just ask our friend Trey Grayson, a Northern Kentucky boy, about campaigning in rural parts of our state.

When he was running for secretary of state, Trey was offered some squirrel stew by one of his gracious hosts. Some of the other candidates at the event declined, but Trey gobbled it right up.

Now, it’s commonly known that Julie and I have never missed a meal. You know those people who claim they get so busy they forget to eat? That’s not us. We would clean our plates if our hair was on fire. We tell each other we just have very strong survival instincts.

But if eating squirrel is a prerequisite for running for statewide office in Kentucky, Julie and I might just sit tight right here in Louisville.

Finally, she’s 40
By the way, if you run into Julie this Thursday, be sure and tell her happy birthday. And don’t forget to mention how tan and blond she is; she’ll feast on that for days.

Julie has been clinging to her 30s for dear life, but they are finally over, and I am rejoicing. She has lorded her relative youth over me for the last time!

Julie and Ellen own Adams & Call Inc., a Louisville public affairs firm. Visit them at adamsandcall.com