State funding for the Bishop Museum - Legislative Reference Bureau

BACKGROUND
The Bureau found that more than half of these states have at least one
state-operated museum, and the state provided in the range of 20 to 100 per
cent of the museum's income. Over half of the states do not give line item
funding to private museums, nor for that matter to private organizations,
often because of state constitutional prohibitions. Many of the respondents
explained that their state funded museums by grants or purchase of service
contracts through a state agency. Statements from the questionnaires
included: l0
Ours is a museum in a state university and as such is funded
entirely by the state legislature's appropriation to the university.
A portion of that operating budget is designated by the university
administration to the museum for supplies and services, salaries,
part-time labor, capital expenses. and acquisitions.
Our Constitution prohibits gratuities to private organizations,
and the state budget does not contain line item appropriations to
private organizations.
Provided funds are for public purpose, private organizations
normally receive funds by contract or application and grant.
Private organizations do not receive state funds through
specific line item appropriation. That is not to say, however, that
private organizations do not receive state monies to fund museums or
museum projects. The Iowa Legislature often appropriates funding
for grant programs, for administration by the Department of Cultural
Affairs. The grants are normally funded primarily from federal
monies with some state contribution.
We are opposed to line item budgeting for museum support. We
recommend against this.