Leaders say Gaston County Museum budget approved; supporters not convinced

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A crowd gathered outside the Gaston County commissioners’ meeting Tuesday to support funding for the county museum.

The possibility of ending public funding has been on the table since last year, which was also when a controversial display was removed from the museum.

Commissioners told Channel 9′s Ken Lemon they plan to fund the Gaston County Museum, but people there aren’t convinced.

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Board chairman Chad Brown told Lemon the entire museum budget has been approved for 2023 to 2024. But museum supporters say nothing is assured until a vote is passed. Until then, they plan to apply pressure.

While a number of people plan to loudly voice their concerns Tuesday night about the museum’s funding, Becky McBride is using a different tactic. She has organized a group of senior Democrats to try to pressure all Republicans on the board of commissioners who, in the past, have been critical of the museum.

McBride said she’s heard the talk that the board can fund the entire museum budget, which is just under a million dollars, or cut all funding. They could also slowly cut funding over several years.

“I almost fear more the slow strangulation,” McBride said. “It’s a death sentence.”

Brown said it would take eight years of fundraising to amass the $937,000 they get from the county each year. Former Gastonia city planner Jack Kiser said that’s not even half a percent of the county’s $361 million budget.

“It’s a very, very tiny portion of the county budget,” he said.

Brown said all of the commissioners see the value in keeping the museum funded.

“They can rest assured on my word that the manager has put it in her budget to fully fund that activity,” Brown said.

Brown said county staff are strengthening their connection with museum workers to help them improve their fundraising model. He told Lemon that must change.

“We want a buy in from you to say, ‘hey we will help you with it,’” he said.

Museum supporters say most museums need public funding to stay open and they plan to fight to keep that funding.

“Promote and preserve our local history, our local culture,” Kiser said.

The county manager told Lemon the museum won’t come up in her budget presentation, but it will be like a consent item that all commissioners agree on.

Museum supporters said they need to hear a “yes” vote approved before they’ll believe the museum is safe. That vote may not come until next month.

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