Questions are being raised around whether ratepayers are getting bang for their buck out of Whangarei Art Museum, which is set to receive an extra $32,000 next year on top of the $278,000 annual grant it already gets.
Whangarei District councillors spent an hour debating the fate of the council-controlled organisation, finally voting to cap its funding at $310,000 for the next two years.
Councillor Greg Martin described the museum's cost per visitor as "huge", while others said the WAM trust was not getting enough and was being "funded to fail". Issues around the museum's low profile entranceway were also raised.
In the 2014/15 financial year, WAM had 8840 visitors. It received $272,000 of ratepayer money plus a $167,000 rent concession, equating to a cost per visitor at about $50.
"Compare it to the Waipu Museum, 31,889 go there and they get $58,000 [from council]," Mr Martin said.