Orange County NC Website
newsobserver.com Page 2 of 2 <br /> 0 <br /> Mayor Charles Meeker said many of the city projects covered by the resolution won't be <br /> completed for several years. By then, he said, there's a likelihood that the economy will have <br /> improved. <br /> He said finding a half-cent for public art is easier now because many city projects are coming in <br /> under budget because of declining construction costs. <br /> "They will be under budget just not by as much," he said. <br /> The resolution is intended to be an interim measure that will eventually be replaced by a <br /> permanent program. The budget for staffing and operating a permanent program is expected to <br /> be discussed as part of the city's coming budget deliberations. <br /> The interim resolution will likely cover the city's new public safety center, which is expected to <br /> cost about $140 million to build. That would mean setting aside $700,000 for public art. <br /> The program is designed so that any money not used on a specific project would be pooled and <br /> could be used to pay for art projects in existing public spaces around the city. <br /> david.bracken @newsobserver.com or 919-829-4548 <br /> Comics,crosswords and coupons...only in The N&O print edition.Subscribe Now! <br /> © Copyright 2009, The News & Observer Publishing Company <br /> A subsidiary of The McClatchy Company <br /> http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-print/story/1409614.html 2/24/2009 <br />