- Industry-targeted taxes are wrong.
- Raising taxes without formal public notification and public hearings is wrong.
- Selecting and presenting only data that favors a particular legislative outcome, as was done by the City Manager and City Staff, is wrong.
- Businesses paying out-of-pocket in order to collect and remit the City’s taxes is wrong.
- Raising taxes higher than neighboring jurisdictions threatens our City’s already fragile Restaurant and Retail community and tarnishes Alexandria’s reputation as a place to start and grow businesses.
- Taxing and spending is a flawed approach to meeting our worthy affordable housing goals. Instead, easing zoning restrictions and encouraging smart development will provide more sound, long-term solutions.
IN THE NEAR-TERM, WE ASK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO:
- Beginning July 1st, 2018, provide a 3% rebate to Restaurants for Meals Tax revenues collected and remitted to the City of Alexandria. This will help to balance credit card fees and administrative costs of collecting and remitting the Meals Tax.
- Beginning July 1st, 2018, reduce the penalty for late payment of Meals Tax to the City from 10% to 2%. Introduce a reasonable grace period before penalties and interest are imposed.
- Immediately amend the budget process such that formal public notification and public hearings are required before any tax increase is proposed, and again after the add/delete process (prior to adopting any budget or ordinance).
IN THE LONG-TERM, WE ASK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO:
- Propose/co-sponsor AND vote for legislation that rescinds the latest 1% increase to the City’s Meals Tax, returning the Meals Tax to 4% beginning in FY2020.
- Propose/co-sponsor AND vote for legislation that creates a full phase-out of the remaining 4% meals tax over a period of time not to exceed four (4) years beginning with FY2021.