The Metropolitan King County Council gave its unanimous support for a program that will provide a financial boost to arts, cultural and heritage capital programs and landmark preservation throughout King County by using a portion of the proceeds of the county’s hotel-motel tax.

The adopted motion approves the Building for Culture Program, a partnership between King County and 4Culture (King County’s cultural services agency). The program would use bonds backed by the hotel-motel tax to build, maintain, expand, preserve, and improve new and existing cultural facilities.

“With the early payoff of Kingdome bonds King County has the opportunity to support many art, culture and heritage program needs,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn. “I am proud that the county can now expand, preserve, and improve new and existing cultural projects for all our residents to enjoy.”

The bonds that will be used to support these projects are made possible by early retirement of the Kingdome debt. State law requires that hotel-motel tax revenues King County collects this year after repayment of the Kingdome debt be directed to arts and cultural programs. Based on recent estimates, the Council expects there will be approximately $20 million available for Building for Culture.

The Council’s action approves the concept of the program and allows 4Culture to begin soliciting proposals for funding (www.4culture.org). Future Council action will be needed to approve appropriation authority for the program and to issue bonds to fund the projects.