The car rental tax that would fund additions to the Wachovia Cultural Campus in Charlotte was approved Tuesday by the House Finance Committee, the Charlotte Observer reports. The final requirement for passage – a vote by the North Carolina House – could happen as early as today.

The bill would allow Mecklenburg County to raise its rental-car tax from 11 percent to 16 percent.

The tax money benefits the cultural arts projects in a convoluted way. The tax money will officially go to transit, which would then free up transit money to pay for the arts projects.

This means the cultural facilities would be paid out of the general fund, something many City Council members said would never happen.

Critics say the bill changes statewide tax law without debate.

The bill has bipartisan support and will be a close vote, the Observer reports.