Mecklenburg County officials are now taking their proposed sales tax increase to the voters.
If voters approve the new measure on the Nov. 5 ballot, all general sales tax throughout the county would increase from 7.25% to 7.50%. The increase would result in an estimated $50 million in additional tax revenue per year.
This past Monday, county commissioners voted to allocate $22.5 million to the Arts and Science Council (ASC), $17 million to parks and greenways, $8 million to education, and $2.5 million to arts and culture projects.
The commissioners, however, would not be required to use the funds in the agreed-upon manner.