reached the local sales tax maximum. The max is 7.5% and we’re already at 7.25%. The reason this tax was even on the ballot was because the local, and very influential, well-funded Arts & Science Council wanted more money. Without having properly organized their original budget requests from the city budget, they then mounted this campaign to get that funding via a tax. In order to broaden the appeal they added local public schools and parks/rec to their pitch. Both of those are already thoroughly funded in regular budgets.

I am a long-time proponent of all things arts, and have been a member of its wider professional community wherever I’ve lived, especially here. But to do a tax grab and max out the taxing limit was a stupid plan.