Mecklenburg County taxpayers asked to approve sales tax “for the children”

A Facebook friend posted a flier that proponents of the proposed Mecklenburg County sales tax increase have sent to residents of the county.

According to an article published in the Charlotte Business Journal,

ASC [Arts & Science Council] pitched the tax as a way to stabilize its funding to distribute grants to arts and cultural groups, citing a steady decline in donations. Commissioners eventually agreed to put the matter before voters as part of a quarter-cent increase that would be divided between arts and culture (45%), parks and greenways (34%), education (16%) and the adjacent towns (5%) outside of Charlotte but within the county.Commissioners eventually agreed to put the matter before voters as part of a quarter-cent increase that would be divided between arts and culture (45%), parks and greenways (34%), education (16%) and the adjacent towns (5%) outside of Charlotte but within the county.

While only 16 percent of funds will go to education directly, proponents of the tax increase have made it the centerpiece of their campaign.