Vote ‘yes’ for meals tax referendum OPINIONS
Meals tax would generate much-needed revenue for FCPS The staff editorial represents the opinion of the majority of The Highlander editorial board
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his November, Fairfax County residents will vote on whether or not to allow the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to levy a four percent tax on prepared meals throughout the county. The tax would apply to all meals, with exceptions for vending machines, grocery stores and food prepared in front of customers, and it will assist the county by generating revenue for education. As a county with a history of budgetary shortfalls, especially for its public schools, Fairfax County would benefit from the meals tax, which promises to contribute much-needed, diverse revenue to the county’s public school system. According to information released on the tax, 70 percent of meals tax revenue would go to FCPS. “FCPS has had a difficult time funding our critical needs, especially teacher raises,” said Jane Strauss, Dranesville Representative for the Fairfax County School Board. “We have lost our competitive edge and are not even at the region’s average. Without a steady source of additional revenues, this will continue to be a challenge.” Strauss and the Board of Supervisors are confident that the meals tax will add an additional stream of income to help close that education funding gap FCPS has been experiencing. The meals tax is predicted to generate $99 million per year of additional revenue, adding $69.3 million to FCPS’s budget. “Most of that money [will be used] to increase teacher pay, and a smaller amount to meet other critical classroom needs such as class sizes, textbooks and classroom technology,” Strauss said. Another goal of the meals tax is to provide Fairfax County residents property tax relief. While this will slightly decrease revenue from some sources, total county revenue will increase, diversifying the previous near-monopoly which real estate and property taxes had established. “Meals tax money will not supplant OCTOBER
current funding for schools but be in addition to this year’s money. In other words, [there will not be a] decrease in revenues coming to FCPS,” Strauss said. “All of the revenue from the meals tax would stay in Fairfax County, unlike many other taxes that are shared with the state.” Despite the fact that a meals tax could bring much-needed funding to public schools and county infrastructure, many local businesses are speaking out against the referendum, claiming that such a tax would harm business. The Tysons Silver Diner, for example, displays signs in the restaurant discouraging patrons from voting for the meals tax. While the fears of businesses are understandable, they are not necessary. Based on information from the Virginia Tourism Corporation, it is estimated that approximately 28 percent of meal expenditures in Fairfax County are generated by non-county residents, or individuals who are not regular customers. Further, a mere four percent tax on a commodity that most individuals don’t purchase every day cannot logically act as a significant deterrent for patrons of Fairfax County restaurants. Most neighboring localities, including Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax City and Arlington, which all have a four percent meals tax, as well as D.C., which has a 10 percent meals tax, have experienced no notable decrease in business activity due to the tax implementations. “If you’re going to a sit-down restaurant, if you’re already paying 30 bucks for a steak, you’re not worried about paying that small four percent. And McDonald’s sells you something that you wouldn’t be able to match elsewhere price-wise regardless,” government teacher Ian Howell said. Even if there were some negligible decrease in business, that loss would be made up for by county renovations and internal improvements that make doing
business in Fairfax County more profitable in the long run. Additionally, the lower real estate tax rates that would result from a meals tax would encourage businesses to open or expand in Fairfax County and provide additional jobs. Some doubts regarding the meals tax stem from recent observations that Fairfax County, when equipped with additional funds, chooses to spend them in ways that do not address the issues residents feel are pressing. FCPS teachers don’t even earn the market average, and our schools are rapidly inching above reasonable capacity. Yet funds have been allocated for school board member pay raises and website and logo redesign. Although the frustration FCPS has caused in the wake of poor budgetary choices is justified, recent moves to increase teacher pay and invest in new technology for students prove that there is hope. A meals tax is the most immediate, noninvasive way to diversify the county’s revenue stream and provide much-needed funding for our schools. This election day, Fairfax County voters should think about the chance to improve education and infrastructure, not the extra few cents they’ll have to pay for their burger. Reporting & page design by Sri Medicherla
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