More on the
Misguided Meals Tax

CREDIT: photo from restaurant public domain website

In the April 2010 edition of Valley Business FRONT magazine, my editorial concerns the proposed two percent meals tax increase (this is a tax in addition to the existing meals tax on top of the state sales tax). In last night's public forum with Roanoke City council, one restauranter offered alternatives to the levy. The "fundraising" ideas are all superior to the notion of penalizing one industry. Other ideas are more valid, too (such as my old-fashioned notion of reallocating moneys from other areas).

I'm on the side of the local business here, just as I would be on the side of school teachers and educators if someone got the notion of exclusively taxing them. What's so hard to understand about this? Eating out is voluntary and therefore less important than our schools? Well okay then, let's lower the levy to .02 percent instead, and tax everything that's not as "essential." Art museums, recreation centers, luxury car owners, greenway walkers, pool hall operators and music halls could garner as much income as silly ol' restaurants.

As my column pointed out, the intent of the meals tax is understandable. But not only is it misguided, I believe the most disturbing call to action I've witnessed is the boycotting of restaurants that don't support it.

A parent hollering that idea out at a rally... well, you can expect that. But a teacher? I hope our children aren't sitting in that classroom. What kind of lesson is that?

"Listen children, if you don't get what you want or feel you aren't being treated fairly, you look elsewhere and find a way to hurt someone else. That's how we resolve our problems."

Oh, be careful little man what you say, what profession you choose, and what possessions you own... you just never know what a city revenuer will think about it.