Hundreds of people attended a rally on Friday night that called on Sedgwick County Commissioners to do away with millions of dollars of budget cuts.
The phrase “Quit the Cuts” was printed on t-shirts, signs and a huge banner in Wichita’s Old Town district. The rally was organized by Arlen Hamilton of the Arts Council, an organization that’s staring down a funding cut of $14,000.
“The Arts Council is supportive of all the organizations that are being cut, because we support quality of life in Sedgwick County,” Hamilton told the crowd.
Sedgwick County has recommended a budget that includes huge cuts to over a dozen county-backed organizations. Those commissioners who support the cuts say county revenues have remained flat in recent years, and cuts are necessary in order to avoid going further into debt.
Todd Ramsey, a local businesses owner, doesn’t see it that way. He says the cuts are unnecessary and that they’ll drive away young talent from both Wichita and surrounding cities.
“These organizations, they’re not just independent entities, they’re part of the fabric of our community and they all tie into what makes our community a great place to live and work and grow our business,” Ramsey said. "I don’t want to see a single one of them affected. Because if one of them is affected, our whole community is.”
The last public hearing for the 2016 recommended budget will be held on August 6.
