Pletts: Journey of Aspen’s 1979 real estate transfer tax
Guest Commentary
Fernando Borrello/Courtesy photo
“And therefore, as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
Will Shakespeare
Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 5
Real estate transfer taxes for the arts is what it is called. It was erroneously captured for a spell and called other names. But the RETT was conceived for the arts in general and voted by the public as such four times. The intention from its establishment in 1979 was half of the funds for making art and half for the support of the arts.
But tragically, the bulk of this money has gone for some support (admin, buildings, room make-overs, and who-knows-what, etc.) for 45 years? Was the public bamboozled? According to this 45-year-international artist resident — absolutely!
It’s been reported (correctly?) that the RETT for 2024 was $8,084,000. Of that, a pittance of $60,000 went to non-corporate resident arts groups. And it was likely spent on operating budgets alone. So, in 1979, we collected $100,000 total and $50,000 went to making art. And in 2021, we collected $8,084,000, and $60,000 went to possible creativity? This system is broken.
Who will administer these funds in 2025 according to public vote? If you live in or visit Aspen, this is the most important issue in the March 4 election. Which candidates will comply with the law and restore Aspen’s spirit by placing funds to where they were voted?
Let’s review one year that the tax did not likely go to creating art: 2021. I asked a former Aspen City finance director to assess yearly amounts. He went into city books and reported that, in 2021, 1% of approximately $11,500,000 was distributed to the “arts” in our community.
What?
I appealed to city council and wrote news letters asking for an arts council — with working artists and creative business people from our valley — like the former long-time Aspen/Snowmass Arts Council. I pleaded in editorials that this be merged with the group of volunteers who were sought to decide where grants go (the recruitment announcement made no mention of education or culture).
Then I met with a city official in his office and closed the door because I’ve lived in Aspen for 47 years. He brought up the 2A referendum on his computer which passed in 2021. It states that it is for “the cultural, visual, and performing arts …”
I said, “But no operating budget appears to be funded, so no art received a grant. You have to pay the electric bill before the choreographer.”
He answered, “Technically, if one dollar went to art, we’d be covered.”
Really? Given three items in the arts referendum list, is the Aspen public satisfied with 33 cents per category? Who oversees spending of public money? If it is staff, then city council members must review and assure the will of the voters.
Did staff figure that if they diverted arts funding to the Red Brick Center then they had complied? No. The referendum clearly states it must go to the making of art — not just support. The people getting paid here are said staff persons, other staff, and administrators at the center. Not to mention facility changes — some needed, some not. Myself, co-founder of the Sarah Pletts Dance Theatre with Janet Garwood and a handful of others — spent three years establishing the Red Brick. I know that the artists there pay rent. They receive no funds.
Longtime residents lament the “decline in the spark of Aspen” or the “diminished spirit in town.” This is due to allowing a reality that is tough emotionally and unbearable financially for creative people who previously infused our community with life. I assure you some of us are still here, many with successful international track records. But we’re reticent to appear because we deserve respect. Our town has suffered tremendously from this.
The so-called Wheeler/Arts fund sits as $54,000,000. Now. $20,000,000 of that should be placed in an arts endowment overseen by a genuine arts council — responsible to voters and the vitality of Aspen.
Please, please readers: Write letters, ask questions prior to this election. Don’t be silent. Let’s elect a city council, which follows the will of the voters. I, for one, would like previous funding years examined, but can we ensure that the lawful amount of the 2025 RETT arts funds be duly distributed to people who MAKE art? To the writers, filmmakers, painters, artists, photographers, dancers, directors, sculptors, etc. who shape our magnificent world?
Sarah A. Pletts is the co-founder with Janet Garwood of the Sarah Pletts Dance Theatre, Ltd. The International, a Colorado-based nonprofit since 1984.
