ROANOKE, Va. – The Roanoke City Council heard from the public regarding two potential tax increases proposed in this year’s budget Monday evening.
The potential increases could come to both the meals tax and the real property tax.
The proposed increase for the meals tax - which currently sits at 5.5% - could range from anywhere between 1-1.5% while the property tax could go up by 7.5%.
“The more money the government takes out of our pockets, the less we have to spend on daily living needs and on our family,” Steve Mabry said.
These potential increases have Roanoke residents and restaurant owners concerned. Restaurant owners say they don’t want to raise prices but may have to make up for the lack of customers who are now staying home to eat.
“I need to pay my people more money, and I need to do that to keep them and take care of them,” Eric DiLauro said. “This makes it really difficult when you put us at this competitive disadvantage.”
Another hot topic was the city’s rainy day fund. Dr. Eli Jamison of Roanoke City Public Schools says that if this fund is removed, then schools will have to make adjustments that will affect students and educators.
“If you sweep the school’s fund balance, Roanoke schools will have layoffs,” Dr. Jamison said. “We will have larger class sizes. We will not have the funds to finish Preston Park Elementary School.”
A petition to reject the proposed meals tax has already over 2000 signatures.
No action was taken by the city on Monday, but the city budget is set to be finalized in May.
