An apparent cut in city funds could jeopardize an $80,000 grant request for the State Theater building, a Pike County Arts Council representative told McComb selectmen this week.
The arts council’s J. Johnson requested $13,000 to pay the note on the theater at the city board’s Monday work session. He said the city has taken care of the $10,000 note in the past, with the council handling the $4,500 interest payment.
However, the city’s payment was cut to $7,000 last year and the council has not received any city funds this year.
The note on the building came due in November.
“This is not new spending,” Johnson said. “This is a prior commitment made by the city.”
Johnson said the city’s commitment to the building was reconfirmed following a renovation in 2003.
Selectmen Wade Lamb and Danny Esch said they did not know the funding was cut, nor did they remember a board vote to cut it.
Johnson said that if the note is not paid, the council could lose an $80,000 grant that is going toward the building’s newest renovation project, which will add a facade and retro marquee to the exterior.
The board will vote on the issue at its regular meeting Tuesday.
