The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has ordered an audit of how the Los Angeles Music Center spends the millions in taxpayer dollars it receives for operating expenses each year, it was reported today.
“It is important that the Music Center’s use of county funds be periodically reviewed for compliance with the board-approved funding agreement,” said Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, noting that the county is providing more than $24 million to the Music Center during the current fiscal year, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Supervisors unanimously approved Antonovich’s call for the audit Tuesday and asked for a report within 60 days, according to The Times.
The Music Center has recently struggled with fundraising, undergone changes in leadership and is preparing for a $350 million renovation of its Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Its leaders also hope to upgrade the center’s outdoor plaza to better accommodate performances.
Music Center officials have said they want the county, which owns the downtown Los Angeles site on the west side of Grand Park, to provide a large chunk of the money needed for the improvements, The Times reported. They expect to raise the rest from private donations.
Kathryn Barger, Antonovich’s chief of staff, said the supervisor “just felt it was prudent to do an audit” and “start with a clean slate” as the center moves forward with its new leadership and renovation plans.
“They’re going to be looking to the county to help,” The Times quoted Barger as saying, “so this is perfect timing” for a review of how the center uses the resources county taxpayers already provide.
