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County Manager: Arts And Science Council Should Be 'Re-Envisioned' If Voters OK New Tax

David Boraks
/
WFAE

Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio has recommended the Arts & Science Council be “re-envisioned” if voters approve a quarter-cent sales tax for the arts in November. 

During the county Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday night, Diorio said the ASC's board of directors would include members of the Mecklenburg Commission. She also said the new board would have “significant county oversight.” 

The quarter-cent sales tax would raise $50 million a year.

Commissioners have proposed that just under half of that money go to arts and cultural projects. The rest of the money would go to parks and greenways, as well as education. 

Diorio proposed the money for parks and education would be placed in a fund that would be separate from the county’s overall budget. 

If voters approve the sales tax increase, the county’s general sales tax would increase to 7.5%.

Steve Harrison is WFAE's politics and government reporter. Prior to joining WFAE, Steve worked at the Charlotte Observer, where he started on the business desk, then covered politics extensively as the Observer’s lead city government reporter. Steve also spent 10 years with the Miami Herald. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, the Sporting News and Sports Illustrated.