The state would contribute as much as $300,000 to keep the New York City Ballet at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center for another summer under a state Senate plan released Wednesday.

The plan announced by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno will contribute $1 of state funds for every $2 raised by SPAC through new membership drives, increased private donations or other sources. That could provide as much as $900,000 to the arts center, Bruno said.

The state funding is a one-time offering that would allow the not-for-profit center to come up with a plan to keep the ballet in Saratoga Springs, Bruno said.

The money comes from discretionary funds under the control of Bruno, a Republican whose district includes Saratoga Springs.

SPAC's board of directors voted last month to end the ballet's three-week summer residency after the 2004 season, saying the dance company was too expensive. The ballet's revenue was $1.24 million in 2002, about $520,000 less than the its fee to perform.

The center's overall budget is between $13 million and $14 million a year.

SPAC President Herb Chesbrough said he will now recommend to SPAC's board that the ballet return for the 2005 season.

"This is also an opportunity for the public over the next couple years to really participate, join in, contribute, sign up for memberships and be there," Bruno said.

Attendance for the ballet has dropped from 90,000 to around 51,000 in the past few years, Chesbrough said. In 2003 about 320,000 people attended events at the center, 28 miles north of Albany.

After local opposition to the decision to drop the ballet, Chesbrough invited the New York troupe to return for the 2007 season.

The ballet has called Saratoga Springs its summer home since the performing arts center opened in 1966. 

Source: News Day