Should Salem raise its meals tax to pay for school construction?
Matt Chittum has a story today looking the Salem City Council’s consideration of raising the city meals tax by two percentage points to six cents per dollar. When you factor in the state sales tax, that would come to 11 cents per dollar.
The city council would use that money to pay about $1.3 million annually in debt service on construction of a new South Salem Elementary School (projected to cost somewhere between $15 million and $16 million).
You might recall that the Roanoke City Council took similar action in 2010, when it increased its meals tax two percentage points to seven cents per dollar (12 cents per dollar when you factor in the state sales tax) and devoted the ensuring revenues to the school system.
Roanoke’s meals tax increase is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2012. Despite calls by the NAACP’s Roanoke branch to renew the tax increase, I’ve so far heard very little support for that from council members — particularly with a municipal election coming up in May, when the mayor and three council members will be up for re-election.
What do you think? Should the Salem City Council vote to increase its meals tax for construction of an elementary school? How about Roanoke? Should the council there allow the meals tax increase to sunset back to five cents per dollar, or should it make that increase permanent?
November 15, 2011 - 12:18 PM
No new taxes, live within means.
And as far as the NAACP wanting to keep the tax in Roanoke. Who cares what a strait up racist organization wants? To me its the same as if the KKK wanted an increase. They are both self serving racist organizations.
Salem should do what they feel is best for them. Certainly a voluntary tax is preferable to a forced tax in some situations as is a temporary tax. School needs are not diminishing. It certainly would never impact my decision on whether to eat in Salem.
I live in South Salem and my young child attends there. While technology is up to date, the structure is pretty old. I am for this voluntary meals tax. I applaud the city council for looking at other ways to achieve the monetary goal for the school instead of begging the Feds.
No new taxes. This will hurt popular restaurants in Salem- specifically Mac and Bob’s and Blue Apron. They need to cut unnecessary programs and spending in other areas to find this revenue. People are going to start going to eat at the Lake as Franklin and Bedford counties have no meals tax.
Let me get this straight, you think driving 30 miles to save pennies on a dollar makes sense? If I go to a restaurant in Salem and spend $20 on a meal, the proposed $1.20 meals tax won’t come close to covering gas costs to Roanoke let alone Smith Mountain Lake. The state and feds gave up helping localities a long time ago. It’s time to take care of our own.
It’s a painless way to bring in some money. Roanoke has it and people actually ate out MORE than they did before. No one’s going to stop going to Mac N Bobs because their calzone costs $.14 more.
@4 Really? People are going to drive to the Lake to avoid a 2 cent increase on their dollar menu cheeseburger? No one is forced to eat out and this seems like the least hurtful way to generate revenue. Of course Salem could always cut expenses by dumping a few sports stadiums.
@6
Painless for who. Believe me when out of towners get their tabs, they notice that “extra” tax. But of course Kristen like all libs LOVE taxes! Remember that when you vote next year. Democrats means more taxes.
People are already taxed far too much by governments- local, state, and federal. It’s more about the principal that taxes shouldn’t be raised period weather its pennies or millions of dollars. I am just tired of the government stealing my money when the only services in which it provides that I find of use are roads and public safety entities ie the police, fire department etc.
Of course Salem should raise it’s taxes to pay for schools, that’s how it’s done. These freeloaders who don’t want to pay their fair share don’t know the meaning of the phrase “common good”. As for the tax hurting restaurants, pure baloney.
“Remember that when you vote next year. Republicans want to push Grandma off a cliff.”
There, fixed it for you.
YES, IT ONLY AFFECTS PEOPLE EATING OUT. IF THEY CAN AFFORD TO EAT OUT THEY CAN AFFORD THE TAX. I ATTENDED SO. SALEM ELEMENTARY AND IT SEEMED OLD WHEN I WAS THERE. I AM 64 YEARS OLD. TAKE CARE OF OUR FUTURE.
Salem Council is all Dems? Who knew?
Tony if you can’t afford to eat out, dont. Don’t blame the few tourists who hop off 81 on the way to Disney for being too cheap to cough up 2 cents.
To think that anyones going to spend 2 hours in the car to save 2 cents is stupid. Pay your way,Salem.
The local Salem government is on of the most independent around. Most of them run as independents and are fiscally conservative, including the mayor. It is almost a liability to run as an R or D. The look beyond party politics and do what is best for the residents.
99% of the people that hit Mac and Bob’s or the Hardees drive thru will not even notice a 2 cent increase. It’s absolutely ridiculous to even really debate this issue. If I was on council, I wouuld just do it. Republicans have been opposed to tax increases for the last 40 years in every circumstance and on every occasion. Do they not understand inflation? Do they not understand increases in commodity prices? In theory if they NEVER want to raise taxes then any inflation necessarily means reducing the size of government or continuously increasing the deficit. The Republican party and conservatives that are opposed to any tax increase should no longer be considered mature enough and responsible enough to govern. Why they and their ilk are not completely rejected by the voters is beyond me.
Five business owners compose Salem City Council. It is the only elected body within miles that can make that claim. Those business/council people must recognize the need. Thankfully, the unwillingness of lawyers and ignorant business-minded people in Richmond to make sound fiscal decisions hasn’t infiltrated all levels of government.
@4, Yeah, Bedford and Franklin schools are the envy of the area. The city and county of Bedford can’t sustain themselves; Franklin supervisors are peeved about iPads. Lets have all local governments emulate them.
Its only 2 cents on top of 0 cents -NO it is on the last tax increase. Every time there is a want/need the taxes are only raised a few pennies. This tax does hurts the restaurant businesses and wait staff and that means less money for tips. This means less take home pay for someone who needs as much take home pay as they can get. The restaurants are having a tuff time now in this economy and the cities should Not go after the restaurants revenue they need it to pay the bills and stay open.
The ever increasing answer to all problems is big government that knows how to spend your money better than you and you do not need it as the city needs are always more important than the business or the family needs. STOP RAISING TAXES!
Roanoke city should sunset the tax increase as was stated they would. There should not even be an option to extend it as it was passed for only a short term tax hike.
Tripp is, of course, wrong. All localities are just learning that the Republican-led state GA is going to dump MORE expenses on them so that legislators can claim a balanced budget “without raising taxes” so the city really can’t afford to give up that revenue. Not unless Tripp wants his kids being taught by their classmates.
Or parents could stop pawning of the responsibility of educating their children on the government and either do it themselves or pay for it themselves.
Gee, that is doubly ironic coming from a person who uses the name “Thomas Paine”.
“His father was a poor corset maker which gave Thomas no option beyond a free school where only a basic education was available.” Wonder where HE would have ended up without a free public education hand up?
He also said: “A nation under a well regulated government should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchial and aristocratical governments, only, that require ignorance for their support.”
Obviously you support a Plutocracy and God knows the TP/GOP has been working hard for 30 years to accomplish just that, but that is NOT what America is or will be.
Your concern for the working class and wait staff is admirable Mr. Godsey but I get the feeling this is more about an anti-tax stance than a support workers stance. The fact is that schools cost money and the federal and state aide is not increasing, precisely because of people like you being “in power”. That means that the ‘enrich the rich and support the powerful’ policies that brought us low will continue until this nation wakes up, and that local governments will have to increase revenue or cut services, period.
“Today’s Republican Party may revere Reagan as the patron saint of low taxation. But the party of Reagan – which understood that higher taxes on the rich are sometimes required to cure ruinous deficits – is dead and gone. Instead, the modern GOP has undergone a radical transformation, reorganizing itself around a grotesque proposition: that the wealthy should grow wealthier still, whatever the consequences for the rest of us.”
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/how-the-gop-became-the-party-of-the-rich-20111109#ixzz1dspkWbIK
Maybe the private sector would be a better solution for some services?
Well sure Mr. Godsey because we ALL know that a private contractor would never rip-off the taxpayers.
Sounds to me like Tripp has an itch to start a private trash collection service or own his own fire company. I hope I never have to depend on a company run by him to collect my trash or protect my home. I expect the servicve would be just about as efficient as his campoaign was.
#22 Yes, Thomas Paine, that works so well. You are aware, aren’t you, that every single civilized nation in the world, as well as the most educated countries in the world, all have public education? I guess you’d prefer to be a third world country.
#23 Sounds like our Thomas might want to change his name.
20.”Roanoke city should sunset the tax increase as was stated they would.”
Yes it is called “keeping your word”
Tripp, the private sector is at work everyday in public schools. It’s called the PTA.
It is also called, things have not improved Jack. Eating out is a choice. You don’t want to pay the tax, eat elsewhere or stay home. The community seems to have embraced the truth whether you have or not. All that cutting at the State and Federal level will mean more burden on localities and…wait for it.,.,.,.higher taxes and fees on us. Head they win, tails we lose. That is how it goes. Services have to be paid for. Get used to it.
Amen belle #31! Amen. The PTA is an incalculable tool, aide and fundraiser for schools—FREE.
Some people might want to review the Virginia constitution. Just sayin’.
‘Services have to be paid for. Get used to it.”
Actually many can and should be eliminated. It is YOU that will have to get used to it That is what the Tea party is all about
Lucky for Salem, you do not get to decide that, “Jack”. Southeast Roanoke is what it is for a reason, and Salem is what it is for a reason too. Success, prosperity and progress are not cheap. The TPR’s shoot themselves in the foot and I love it when they do.
“Southeast Roanoke is what it is for a reason”
My ex old lady once told me that she never felt more comfortable anywhere than SE. Salem is a rich area while SE is a working class area. That doesn’t make it better. SE is getting better every day in spite of govt. not because of it. And I may not be able to “decide” for Salem, but since you live in Bedford you can’t either..capice?
Seriously? “capice?” Are you a gangster or what? Who talks like that?
Where did I try to “decide” for Salem?
I’m not opposed to a small tax to help the schools as a whole, but if I am paying a tax for South Salem Elementary ONLY I struggle more with it. And when renovations are over? Are they going to repeal the tax? Unlikely.
I, like Belle, am a South Salem mother and I am all for the raise in meals tax. Not EVERYone in Salem is rich, despite the rumors, and I can not afford to pay out of pocket for a new school. I would rather keep the other Salem “luxuries”, like quick snow removal (yes to me that is a luxury). Kudos to the council for being creative.
After living in Roanoke County for a time and having endured operating a business in Roanoke City and Roanoke County. I now live and operate my business in Salem. In my opinion, The City of Salem is working as hard as it can and more in order to ensure that our Town and its future not only survives this economic situation the World is in, but also flourishes. Salem Administration and it’s residents support their children. This is not political it is practical and is a tax of choice. Don’t like it don’t pay it. Salem is a Team and it will find a way.