Libba Evans' recent absence from the state political scene has given a lift to a bad idea.
Critics of the Department of Cultural Resources, who see that it has operated without a secretary since last spring, suggest that North Carolina do away with her post and roll cultural programs into the Department of Commerce.
Evans has been on unpaid leave since May while she deals with personal matters.
When the General Assembly reconvenes in January, it will face a budget shortfall that may go as deep as $3 billion. In this atmosphere, all kinds of budget cuts are being considered in Raleigh.
Rolling cultural programs into the Department of Commerce is one of those ideas. Speaking to reporters recently, a top Senate Republican said that Evans' absence from her job showed that her post isn't needed. If it were eliminated, the department would have to go, too.
That would not be a wise move.
Certainly, it appears odd that a department can run without a secretary. But DCR is without a secretary in name only. The Easley administration has given Evans' deputies the authority to cover her responsibilities. And, in the eighth and final year of an administration, most of a secretary's work involves program implementation, not strategic leadership.
North Carolina was the first state to create a Cabinet-level cultural-resources department. That means that the state's top cultural officer is a very important presence when the governor convenes the Cabinet.
As an administration sets statewide policies, the cultural-resources secretary is there to underscore the importance of the arts in economic development. And when education is discussed, the secretary can discuss the role the arts play in developing the mind. And when ... well, you get the idea.
If cultural programs were rolled into the commerce department, that voice would be lost. Commerce secretaries have other priorities. And while the DCR budget is $81 million, most of that expense would transfer to Commerce.
There are some who scoff at the value of the arts, who say they are a luxury. We disagree. We shudder to think what the local economy would be without all of the wonderful cultural amenities we enjoy here in the "City of the Arts"-- and all of the dollars that those amenities draw each year from visitors.
Winston-Salem and Forsyth County are not alone in North Carolina when it comes to enjoying such economic benefits. Communities in every corner of this state boast rich cultural attractions.
DCR has been instrumental in building our state economically and in improving our quality of life. It would be foolish to discard that resource in a vain effort to save a few dollars.
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