Jackson Free Press

Jackson is set to receive $550,000 from the federal government to upgrade three public arts facilities. The City Council will vote tomorrow on submitting a formal earmark request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which would finalize the funding that Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker secured for the city last year.

City spokesman Chris Mims said that the funds would help pay for interior and exterior renovations to the Municipal Art Gallery, Thalia Mara Hall and the Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center.

Thalia Mara Hall needs repairs badly, said Michael Beattie, president of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, which uses the performance hall regularly.

"Repairs and upgrades to Thalia Mara Hall are essential to our continued use of the facility," Beattie said. "Thalia Mara's staff does everything it can to keep the building in good shape and to mitigate any concerns, but due to age, a number of things do need to be addressed."

The auditorium's seating, restrooms, floor and wall coverings all need improvements, he said.

"All you have to do is walk in the building to see that this is a wonderful but well-used facility," Beattie added.

City spokesman Chris Mims said that the city needs the funds to repair weather damage as well as wear-and-tear to the three facilities. Private contributions and small line items in the city's budget have helped pay for prior repairs, but the city's difficult financial straits make outside funding essential.

The three buildings are among the city's more venerable properties. The Municipal Art Gallery, originally a private home, dates back to the 1860's, while Smith Robertson has its origins in a brick school building for African American students, was constructed in 1909 and later expanded in 1929. Thalia Mara Hall was built in 1968.

Congress approved the earmark when it passed HUD's appropriations bill for the 2010 fiscal year in December 2009. Submitting an earmark proposal to HUD is a formality, Mims said. The city will begin spending the money "whenever we can draw it down," he added.

The city's access to earmark funds could come to a temporary halt this year, however. Two weeks ago, both Mississippi senators signed a Republican pledge to voluntarily forego earmarks in the upcoming 112th Congress, casting doubt on the prospects of any requests this year. Cochran and Wicker, both among the Senate's most profligate when it comes to pork-barrel spending, agreed to the moratorium supported by their Republican colleagues.

Mims said that while he was unsure whether the city would include any earmark requests in its legislative agenda for next year, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. still supports earmarks for local projects.

"Mayor Johnson has gone on record saying that the city of Jackson has received important earmarks in the past to help with public safety, infrastructure and a number of items," Mims said. "Any request that the city of Jackson puts forth to Congress, we would hope that that they would judge on merit."