Cuts Expected in Workhouse Budget Crunch

Difficult budget decisions appear imminent at the Workhouse Arts Center following a special meeting Thursday of the Lorton Arts Foundation Board, which manages the nonprofit arts center.    

The board made revisions to its FY2014 budget, approved the establishment of a reserve fund and gave CEO John Mason the power to take contingency action.

A source familiar with the meeting said the board needs to make payments on a $52 million bond and the solution may impact staffing and services at the site.

Those tweaks include yet-to-be disclosed reductions in the Workhouse marketing and maintenance budgets, the elimination of a staff position and keeping two vacant full-time positions unfilled.

The Board also approved the establishment of a new reserve of cash to be funded from private donors.

Workhouse Arts Center President and CEO John Mason would not offer details regarding the meeting, but said, "There’s a little tweaking the board asked for in the budget. They were very minor tweaks.”

The board has given Mason leeway in modifying budget expenses, but he stressed that any significant changes would require board action.   

“It was only a discussion from our legal counsel over some interesting items, but there’s nothing that empowers me to do anything on my own as a result of that," he said.

The Workhouse, former home to the Lorton prison, has struggled financially since it opened in 2008. It is set on 55 acres and features more than 100 artists with studios, live theater performances, classes, art shows, dinners and movie nights.

The next meeting of the LAF board is in September.