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Meal tax leaving bad taste
 Jason Tyler, owner of Attleboro’s Moose Cabin Restaurant, says food businesses are being singled out.
Top Headlines The state Senate has included in its version of the state budget a provision allowing cities and towns to adopt a 2 percent meals tax. The city of Attleboro, however, has included a 1 percent meals tax that would raise an estimated $500,000 in its budget proposal. The Senate provision would not allow a 1 percent tax, said D.J. Corcoran, chief of staff to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. "It would have to go directly to 2 percent," he said Wednesday. Peter Christie, president of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, who has been following the meals tax debate on Beacon Hill, also said the current proposal only allows for 2 percent local meals taxes. "Attleboro couldn't do that," he said when informed of the city's 1 percent plan. Christie said the issue has been confused by several competing tax proposals. Gov. Deval Patrick, for example, floated the idea of allowing cities and towns to adopt 1 percent or 2 percent taxes, but that measure was never approved. The Senate 2 percent plan is the only one on the table at the moment, he said. Further complicating the matter is that under the Senate plan, cities and towns that adopt the 2 percent tax would only get to keep half the revenue, said state Rep. Steve D'Amico, D-Seekonk. D'Amico, who has studied the issue on behalf of Seekonk, said the first 1 percent would go to the city or town and the second half would go to the state. The state would then distribute the money for regionalization efforts and aid to other cities and towns. Corcoran said the state budget is currently being finalized by a conference committee. The committee has the ability to change items in the budget as long as they do not exceed the scope of the original measure, he said. The Senate passed the local option measure to help cities and towns with budget deficits and to make up for lost state aid. The House did not include the provision in its version of the budget. If the House does not agree to go along with the Senate plan, there would be no local meals tax allowed. Christie said he expects a final version of the budget will be released by the conference committee Friday.
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sunnie13 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:13 PM:
snarky wrote on Jun 18, 2009 7:45 PM:
Cumberland wrote on Jun 18, 2009 6:26 PM:
wonderingwhy wrote on Jun 18, 2009 6:23 PM:
mike wrote on Jun 18, 2009 6:11 PM:
snarky wrote on Jun 18, 2009 5:52 PM:
ricknkim wrote on Jun 18, 2009 4:49 PM:
I am just growing tired of all the complaining about taxes, fees, gas, etc. and therefore am a little put off by some of the comments here. As Mr. Dantes stated, many of these costs are avoidable because they are based upon consumption. You can certainly eat out less often to avoid it, but that will of course mean less business for that mom/pop restaurant trying to survive . . . but you did save 60 cents, so there you go! "
mmarcia wrote on Jun 18, 2009 4:26 PM:
I own a 12-year-old car and get 34mpg in a good week. I have a bike, but I can't bike everywhere or everyday. And I don't drink. I also have a mortgage and credit cards that don't have much on them because I'm frugal. My Christmas shopping is already started for this year - I buy it when I see it at a good price. I enjoy eating out once a week, and shouldn't be penalized for that by the government - state or local.
I assure you that I have NOT had a hand in this "economic meltdown", and I will not accept extra taxes to pay for those who did. I don't mind helping those who are legitimately disabled, but I sure don't want my hard-earned money to pay for the lazy and the stupid. So if you're trying to give money away, call me and I'll give you my address. "
Anna D wrote on Jun 18, 2009 3:01 PM:
AndrewJackson wrote on Jun 18, 2009 2:46 PM:
jose21 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 2:23 PM:
Edmund.Dantes wrote on Jun 18, 2009 2:21 PM:
ricknkim wrote on Jun 18, 2009 2:05 PM:
I don't mind paying taxes, I'm blessed to make a decent salary and see it as my moral responsibility to support those who can't - doesn't really bother me and there's more important things in my life. That doesn't say I want my elected officials to waste money nor that I condone those who take advantage of social support programs - just that I am personally willing to help the greater good and reluctantly accept the less desirables cheating. I'm happy to pay the extra $100 annually for a meals tax and will eat out a little more in RI to cover the devastating losses that state has lost due to mmarcia boycotting their restaurants (just kidding, relax).
I do my best to hold elected officials accountable by voting in every election, writing letters/phoning their offices when I take offense to their leadership. The problem is, we (America) have pathetic turn-out during elections and re-elect these fools. So are the elected hacks to blame or is our society to blame for allowing them to govern?
We've all had a hand in creating this economic meltdown, now we all should accept some of the penalties (meals tax) in the interim so our governments can provide the police and fire protection, school departments improving education, etc. "
realist wrote on Jun 18, 2009 1:17 PM:
A 20% increase in meals taxes, a 30% increase in the sales tax, the .3% extra on income tax that the voters wanted rolled back bust was ignored, outrageous hikes in cigarette taxes ( I don't smoke but I don't advocate scr@wing those that do. I'm sure the governor will want something of his gas tax hike too.
All to support a corrupt and unresponsive government. When do we say enough? "
anavoter wrote on Jun 18, 2009 1:06 PM:
Attleboro should reduce its spending and trim the payroll. "
attman63 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 1:05 PM:
1. We have top notch business colleges up here with the best/brightest- Harvard Public Administration senior project: audit a city with $100M budget. We get objective, expert advice and pay NOTHING for it-
2. PROVEN RESULTS: Sales tax holiday for Attleboro!
3. What are other towns in our situation doing (other than raising taxes)? "
mmarcia wrote on Jun 18, 2009 11:46 AM:
I've gotten a bit off the subject, but remember tat if you find a quarter every day it adds up to $91.25 over a year. Better in my pocket than theirs! So, I don't go to' The Hill' for italian, to the water for fish, etc. "
1333 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 11:46 AM:
ricknkim wrote on Jun 18, 2009 11:08 AM:
If I am off-base, I apologize - but I just don't comprehend someone dropping a restaurant because their bill might increase by such an insignificant amount. "
common sense coordinator wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:46 AM:
realist wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:31 AM:
Southern View has a good memory. I also seem to recall when the meals tax was supposed to pay for programs for the elderly.
I am with mmarcia - I used to enjoy some of the casual dining restaurants in nearby RI and one high end one for special occasions. It's cheaper to go to stay local - for now.
There are come of chain restaurants in different towns that are about equidistant from my house - depending on if I turn left or right. Let's see which towns start charging the tax. I'm sure that no town will forgo the tax. "
attman63 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:31 AM:
Gridiron09 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:31 AM:
mmarcia wrote on Jun 18, 2009 9:59 AM:
Southern View wrote on Jun 18, 2009 9:49 AM:
ricknkim wrote on Jun 18, 2009 9:38 AM:
I do wonder what impact a 1-2% increase on meals tax would have on consumption though. What is the average restaurant bill - $75? So the added meals tax will add $.75 or $1.50? Not sure that would deter me in the least bit from going out for a nice dinner . . . . or if you hit Burger King, that $10 crappy meal will go up $.10-$.20?.
What I do agree with is that the mom/pop restaurants continually get it over a barrell for doing business in Massachusetts. "
kevin h. wrote on Jun 18, 2009 7:37 AM:
mayst wrote on Jun 18, 2009 4:35 AM: