Feeding off the carcass

Not only did the AHS destroy the mineral museum and its K-12 education programs, they are profiting from doing so. The first reference below shows that they are selling gift shop inventory taken from the mineral museum at the Marley Center Museum in Tempe (AKA History Museum at Papago Park).

The second reference appears to indicate that they obtained a rent reduction on the empty mineral museum, and then transferred $148,300 of the reduction to their Marley Center Museum (they get free rent at Marley Center).

Since the AHS is currently still on baseline budgeting, that might possibly mean that they will be rewarded with an additional $140,300 every following year for destroying the mineral museum.

References:

1. Mining and Minerals – A 25 x 60 foot area where the Play Ball exhibit was displayed will hold this exhibit. Programing will be done around the exhibit adding an academic element to the collection. Part of the inventory of minerals/jewelry was on display at the museum store during the Historical League Open House and almost $500.00 in sales was realized in two hours. The revenue received is tied to the mineral collection.

CENTRAL ARIZONA CHAPTER – ARIZONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

October 18, 2013

2. The budget includes $410,500 and 3 FTE Positions from

the General Fund in FY 2013 for the Arizona Experience

Museum. These amounts fund the following adjustments:

Rent

The budget includes a decrease of $(148,300) from the

General Fund in FY 2013 to redistribute monies for rent

from the Arizona Experience Museum to the Papago Park

Museum.

Statewide Adjustments

The budget includes a decrease of $(30,900) from the

General Fund in FY 2013 for statewide adjustments

Fiscal Year 2013 Appropriations Report, Page 129, Arizona Historical Society