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Top 10 reasons to vote no on the food and beverage tax
Top 10 reasons to vote no on the food and beverage tax
On Nov. 4, there will be a referendum on the ballot in Fauquier to increase taxes by four percent throughout the county (Warrenton, The Plains and Remington excluded) on food and beverages consumed in restaurants as well as all ready-to-eat food purchased in delicatessens, grocery and convenience stores.
The board of supervisors and proponents of this tax argue that it will largely be paid by “someone else,” that it is a choice of this tax or higher property taxes, and that people have a voluntary choice of eating out or staying at home.
As you make your decision on how to vote, I’d like you to consider the following 10 reasons to vote no and send a clear message to the supervisors on their misguided tax:
1. This tax will be borne more by county residents than out of towners and tourists. In places that have adopted a similar tax, research has consistently shown that locals are the ones who pay the bulk of it.
2. Contrary to the way this is being pitched by the county, this is not a simple choice of eating home vs. dining out. Since the tax applies to all ready-to-eat foods, if a commuter or working mom wants to pick up any ready-to-eat food on his or her way home, even at a grocery store, they are going to get hit with this meals tax.
3. Singling out restaurants and food establishments for a tax that won’t benefit them is unfair. In addition, research also indicates that any time taxes are increased, there is a corresponding decrease in sales, reducing collections of the new tax.
4. This is being presented as an inevitable choice between this tax or higher real estate taxes. There is a third option: cut spending.
5. Real estate taxes are deductible, meals taxes are not.
6. Meals are already taxed by the state and by some local municipalities. Now the board of supervisors wants another one. Aren’t we taxed enough already?
7. Speaking of being already taxed enough, this new tax comes on the heels of a whopping 18.6 percent real estate tax hike earlier this year. Wasn’t that enough?
8. Since when is food and beverage considered a luxury? Of all the things to tax, this seems particularly inappropriate.
9. Our economy is in a meltdown. The board of supervisors couldn’t have predicted that in January when this idea was hatched. While I find this tax to be a bad idea any time, I could not think of a worse time to burden taxpayers further.
10. Sensing how unpopular this new tax will be, supervisors have publicly stated that they do not expect their tax to pass. We shouldn’t disappoint them.
Hoagland has lived in Fauquier County for 20 years.
Just don't buy prepared food. How difficult is that to get around? I seem to do just fine, mainly because I don't really trust anyone else to prepare my food. Buying prepared food IS a luxury. Having multiple choices of just where to buy said prepared food is still more luxurious, especially in the face of an economic downturn. People will likely slow down buying that kind of product anyway.
Posted by RetroPC
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