A Sacramento business owner wants motorists across the state to ride to the rescue of California's arts programs – one license plate at a time.

And a ruling by the state's Franchise Tax Board just might make it possible.

Fees for the palm trees-and-sunset license plates that support the arts in California are now tax-deductible.

Burnie Lenau's Sacramento landscaping firm Lawnman was the first business in California to take advantage of the decision Monday, the unofficial start to a California Arts Council campaign to place the specialty arts license plates, designed by Sacramento artist Wayne Thiebaud, on 1 million vehicles.

"It's an opportunity to give back, and it's an opportunity to help kids, the state and businesses," said Lenau. "How do you beat that?"

Lenau has supported arts and education programs both through his business, as a member of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and as a season ticket holder of the Music Circus. Over the next seven months, he plans to attach the arts license plates to his entire 30-vehicle fleet.

The council's One Million Plates for the Arts campaign would pump much-needed cash into the council's coffers to fund arts education and local arts programs.

Plates are $50 for a standard tag and $90 for a personalized plate.

The council receives about $35 from every new plate and about $40 per renewal, making up 60 percent of the arts council's $5.4 million budget, council officials said.

The fees are now considered a charitable contribution to the council, thanks to a Franchise Tax Board ruling last November.

Specialty interest license plate sales have been a boon for any number of California causes – from coastal protection to scholarships to veterans organizations.

More than $216 million has been generated for a variety of causes over the years, said Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman Michael Marando.

And today, more than 162,000 arts plates are in circulation, Marando said.

"Given the state's budget circumstances, we're going to be looking toward license plates to fund arts programs in the future," said Mary Beth Barber, a California Arts Council spokeswoman. "Arts license plates will become more and more important."

Statewide, more than 300 organizations depend on funding from the arts council, but it ranks dead last in the nation in spending per capita, the result of years of budget cuts.

According to council officials, the state spends just 12 cents per person per year on the arts. Massachusetts spends nearly $2 per person and New York spends more than $2.50.

But Barber hopes the license plate's new charitable contribution status will spur businesses to follow business owner Lenau's example.

"Business never had the incentive to participate, but now there's a bottom-line benefit for those participating in the program," Barber said.

Bob Welton, a Metro Chamber member services executive who told Lenau of the arts council effort, says he expects other businesses to follow suit.

"It's even more critical for the business community to step up, because arts funding is flat-out not available," Welton said. "Whether you're supporting the arts or helping at-risk kids, it makes the quality of life for everyone better."

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