Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019
Should Mecklenburg voters approve a sales tax increase to help shore up funding for the arts and cultural sector? Both sides in the tax debate make their case in a forum at the McGlohon Theater.
The Arts & Science Council pitched the quarter-cent increase as a lifeline for cultural organizations that "are in crisis and... might be lost."
If approved, the increase would generate an estimated $50 million, of which the ASC would receive 45 percent.
"I think arts and culture can help bridge our community and bring us together and deal with a lot of other issues we have," said former county commissioner Darrel Williams, chairman of the campaign supporting the increase.
Thirty-four percent of the new tax revenue would go toward parks and greenways, and 16% would supplement Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teacher salaries.
But opponents question if the community has more important needs than the arts.
"We've actually seen through surveys what the priorities in the community are, such as affordable housing, things like transportation," said former county commissioner Matthew Ridenhour, organizer of the Mecklenburg Tax Alliance. "(Is) funding this private organization the best use of our last quarter-cent sales tax increase that we have?"
The campaigns for and against the increase joined Mike Collins and a live audience at the McGlohon Theater to make their cases.
GUESTS
Darrel Williams, chairman of the Partnership for a Better Mecklenburg campaign supporting the increase, former Mecklenburg County commissioner
Susan Harden, Mecklenburg County commissioner, District 5, supporter of the increase
Matthew Ridenhour, organizer of the Mecklenburg Tax Alliance opposing the increase, former Mecklenburg County commissioner
Pat Cotham, Mecklenburg County commissioner, at-large, opponent of the increase
