Theater's fate relies on city

Franklin also could choose to cut funds to nonprofits
The Tennessan

FRANKLIN — Tough financial choices may come tonight for aldermen as they discuss whether to spend as much as $500,000 to help restore the Franklin Theatre — and whether to cut $490,170 from the city's budget, including money for local nonprofits.
Theater owners at the nonprofit Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County need $1.5 million by the first week of January in order to get a matching grant of $1.5 million from the Martin Foundation.
Private funds for the theater have dried up with the spiraling national economy, leaving city officials pondering whether to invest in the restoration of the 400-seat theater, which could be used for larger public gatherings in the future.
"It's a sticky wicket," said Mayor John Schroer, who said he had not yet made up his mind about whether he would support putting city money into the theater project. If the city does support the project, he said he wants the foundation to pay back any money Franklin contributes.
Schroer said he's still talking to two possible donors about contributing money to the project, though the parties have not committed yet.
"This project has had community buy-in, but it needs a little bit more," Schroer said. "I've got some hope."
Alderman Dan Klatt — who represents Ward 4, where the theater is located — says he's had an "overwhelmingly positive response" to his proposal that the city support the theater.
He hopes the project will garner $500,000 in public funds, but if not, Klatt said he's open for discussion.
Meanwhile, aldermen are looking at cuts throughout the budget for the next fiscal year, including contributions to the nonprofit organizations the city regularly supports each year.
Of the $490,170 in the budget for appropriations, the city contributes $365,653 to nonprofit agencies — including The Boys & Girls Club of Franklin/Williamson County, which received $18,000 this year; the Community Housing Partnership, which received $10,000; and J.L. Clay Senior Citizens Center, which received $49,237, according to city records.
Klatt said he doesn't believe those contributions should be pared in 2009.
"They are providing services we don't provide as a city, and they're valuable to the quality of life of our city," he said.