The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is seeking to introduce a referendum ballot measure that would impose a meals tax of 4% on all restaurant meals and prepared foods in Fairfax County. Fairfax County does not currently have a meals tax.
In a time when foodservice operators face high food prices, increasing transportation taxes and rising health care costs, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and its members, restaurants and residents in Fairfax County, as well as businesses and voters throughout the Commonwealth, stand in opposition to the call to impose a meals tax in Fairfax County.
If the meals tax is imposed at the 4 percent rate, the total sales tax on prepared food would be 10 percent. The addition of 4 percent meals tax to the current 6 percent sales tax the state charges would constitute a 66 percent tax increase on Fairfax County residents and visitors. RAMW and its members do not think a single business or industry should be burdened with raising revenue for the County’s general fund.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisor’s Message to Restaurants: There’s four for you, ten for me.
According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2013-2014 Operation Report, the average profit margin for a restaurant is about 4 percent. For every one dollar of sales the average restaurant takes home four pennies. If Fairfax County is successful in instituting a 4 percent meals tax, the total tax on meals in Fairfax County will be 10 percent. Under this proposed meals tax the county and the state will take over two times the amount of profit a restaurant owner takes home.
Other Reasons to Say No to a Fairfax County Meals Tax
The meals tax unjustly targets a single industry to raise revenue for the general fund, while placing a disproportionately high burden on low and middle income families, senior citizens, and restaurant employees. Senior citizens and low and middle income families dine out at a higher rate, placing a higher burden on a demographic with fixed incomes and inflexible budgets. For restaurant service staff the primary source of income is tips, which are proven to decrease in counties with a meals tax.
Restaurants located in areas with a meals tax also have a higher turnover rate, and employ a smaller staff. A meals tax not only negatively affects a select demographic of the population, it also harms the success of restaurants, the health of the employees, and the growth of the industry by discouraging new restaurants from opening in the county.
Sign the Petition Today and Say No to a Fairfax County Meals Tax
We present you with this petition as a united voice of opposition to the proposed meals tax. The restaurants, businesses, and residents of Fairfax County and Virginia do not support a meals tax referendum on the ballot, and will vote against a meals tax if placed on the ballot.
Updates
June 8, 2014
The signature count has reached five hundred residents who oppose this unfair tax burden on our local restaurants. This response confirms that our community recognizes the disproportionate impact this proposal would have on small business operators and consumers alike.
Reached 500 supporters
June 6, 2014
June 5, 2014
We are rapidly approaching five hundred signatures against the proposed meals tax. Please circulate this petition within your networks to ensure the Board of Supervisors hears our opposition clearly.
June 4, 2014
The Board of Supervisors continues to overlook the narrow profit margins that define the local restaurant industry. I am currently reaching out to individual members of the council to ensure they understand the long term economic consequences of this proposed tax increase.
Reached 100 supporters
June 3, 2014
13 Comments
The Fairfax County meals tax proposal is yet another example of how “out of touch” the Board of Supervisors are with their constituents - especially with the high inflation we are all experiencing today n 2024.
vague how funds to be used, tax revenue unlikely to be used asclaimed, and meal tax not help ease property tax as both will grow over time. taxation isn,t the only solution to problems.
Our area of Fairfax already is burdened with a Special District Tax, we do not need another tax
Enough with the taxes already. my property taxes are high enough as it is. stop trying to bleed us dry every time you need a new project.
NO on the meals tax! eating out is already expensive enough without adding another 4 percent on top. stop targeting local restaurants.
it's a crooked policy.
VA
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The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is seeking to introduce a referendum ballot measure that would impose a meals tax of 4% on all restaurant meals and prepared foods in Fairfax County. Fairfax County does not currently have a meals tax.
In a time when foodservice operators face high food prices, increasing transportation taxes and rising health care costs, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and its members, restaurants and residents in Fairfax County, as well as businesses and voters throughout the Commonwealth, stand in opposition to the call to impose a meals tax in Fairfax County.
If the meals tax is imposed at the 4 percent rate, the total sales tax on prepared food would be 10 percent. The addition of 4 percent meals tax to the current 6 percent sales tax the state charges would constitute a 66 percent tax increase on Fairfax County residents and visitors. RAMW and its members do not think a single business or industry should be burdened with raising revenue for the County’s general fund.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisor’s Message to Restaurants: There’s four for you, ten for me.
According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2013-2014 Operation Report, the average profit margin for a restaurant is about 4 percent. For every one dollar of sales the average restaurant takes home four pennies. If Fairfax County is successful in instituting a 4 percent meals tax, the total tax on meals in Fairfax County will be 10 percent. Under this proposed meals tax the county and the state will take over two times the amount of profit a restaurant owner takes home.
Other Reasons to Say No to a Fairfax County Meals Tax
The meals tax unjustly targets a single industry to raise revenue for the general fund, while placing a disproportionately high burden on low and middle income families, senior citizens, and restaurant employees. Senior citizens and low and middle income families dine out at a higher rate, placing a higher burden on a demographic with fixed incomes and inflexible budgets. For restaurant service staff the primary source of income is tips, which are proven to decrease in counties with a meals tax.
Restaurants located in areas with a meals tax also have a higher turnover rate, and employ a smaller staff. A meals tax not only negatively affects a select demographic of the population, it also harms the success of restaurants, the health of the employees, and the growth of the industry by discouraging new restaurants from opening in the county.
Sign the Petition Today and Say No to a Fairfax County Meals Tax
We present you with this petition as a united voice of opposition to the proposed meals tax. The restaurants, businesses, and residents of Fairfax County and Virginia do not support a meals tax referendum on the ballot, and will vote against a meals tax if placed on the ballot.
Updates
June 8, 2014
The signature count has reached five hundred residents who oppose this unfair tax burden on our local restaurants. This response confirms that our community recognizes the disproportionate impact this proposal would have on small business operators and consumers alike.
Reached 500 supporters
June 6, 2014
June 5, 2014
We are rapidly approaching five hundred signatures against the proposed meals tax. Please circulate this petition within your networks to ensure the Board of Supervisors hears our opposition clearly.
June 4, 2014
The Board of Supervisors continues to overlook the narrow profit margins that define the local restaurant industry. I am currently reaching out to individual members of the council to ensure they understand the long term economic consequences of this proposed tax increase.
Reached 100 supporters
June 3, 2014
13 Comments
This is a horrible idea. It's a tax on lower and middle class. It will make me go out less often.
The Fairfax County meals tax proposal is yet another example of how “out of touch” the Board of Supervisors are with their constituents - especially with the high inflation we are all experiencing today n 2024.
vague how funds to be used, tax revenue unlikely to be used asclaimed, and meal tax not help ease property tax as both will grow over time. taxation isn,t the only solution to problems.
Our area of Fairfax already is burdened with a Special District Tax, we do not need another tax
Enough with the taxes already. my property taxes are high enough as it is. stop trying to bleed us dry every time you need a new project.
NO on the meals tax! eating out is already expensive enough without adding another 4 percent on top. stop targeting local restaurants.
it's a crooked policy.
VA
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This is a horrible idea. It's a tax on lower and middle class. It will make me go out less often.