Title:
Dedicated Sales Tax for Arts & Culture and Other Uses (Chair Dunlap)
Summary
ACTION:
1) Discuss proposal to increase the local sales tax by a quarter (¼) cents to fund arts and culture, as well as other County programs and consider placing a referendum on the November 5, 2019 ballot;
2) Direct staff to take the next appropriate steps and report back to the Board at the July 2, 2019 meeting; and
3) Discuss governance model.
Commission Contact: George Dunlap, Chair
Presentation: Yes
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Consider placing a referendum on the ballot for the November 5, 2019 election to levy an additional quarter cents sales tax to fund arts and culture, as well as other County programs . The sales tax would generate approximately $50 million per year. The Board will have to determine which model will provide the best support for the arts community as well as transparency and control over the dollars.
On February 12, 2019 the Board of County Commissioners received a report from the Arts and Science Council (ASC) proposing that the County consider placing a referendum on the ballot to levy an additional quarter cents sales tax. The ASC proposed that $20 million of the $50 million that would generated, be allocated to funding arts and cultural programs and institutions throughout the county and
the remainder allocated to other purposes. To gauge community sentiment for the proposal, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Foundation contracted with Well World Solutions to poll County residents.
On April 16, 2019 the Board received as information, the results of the poll by Well World Solutions. No action was taken or required at that time. Chair Dunlap indicated that the appropriate time for the Board to take action would come at a later date. Thus, the matter is being placed on the June 18, 2019 agenda for further discussion and action.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
N/A
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A