Many respondents of a Patch survey are resistant to a temporary meals tax, although some want to see a pool and fitness center.
Patch Staff
|Updated Tue, Oct 29, 2024 at 8:56 am ET
VIENNA, VA — A majority of respondents to a Patch survey oppose a proposed 1 percent temporary meals tax being considered by Vienna Town Council.
We surveyed readers after Vienna Town Council began having discussions about a temporary meals tax addition to fund the community's desired indoor pool and fitness center. The pool and fitness center was the final recommendation for the annex property at 301 Center Street South. Town Council discussed the option of a temporary 1 percent meals tax increase on top of the current 3 percent rate to help fund the project sooner — by 2030. The town estimated the opening would be 2040 under the normal capital project funding process.
Nearly 200 readers responded to our survey from the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 23 to noon on Monday, Oct. 28. There were 73.3 percent of respondents opposed to a 1 percent temporary meals tax, while 22.7 percent were supportive and 3.5 percent unsure.
There was more support for the indoor pool and fitness center, even for those that don't want a temporary meals tax hike to fund it. A total of 44.9 percent support the pool and fitness center uses, while 40.4 percent are opposed and 14.6 percent are unsure.
Respondents indicated 65.2 percent eat out at least once a week in Vienna, and 26.8 percent eat out at least once a month. But 60.1 percent overall said the 1 percent meals tax addition would make them less likely to eat out. Another 36.8 percent said the meals tax hike would have no impact on their decision to eat out.
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One common reason cited for opposed respondents was the cost of taxes or eating out. Some were concerned about restaurants surviving on small profit margins.
"We already have tax fatigue in Vienna," one respondent said. "An additional tax would absolutely hurt consumers and more importantly businesses as I personally would simply drive to a restaurant outside of Vienna."
"I think 10 years is a long time for a 'temporary' tax and places the burden on a lot of people who will possibly not be able to afford to eat in Vienna restaurants as often as they might like or as often as they do now," another shared. "This could have an adverse effect on the restaurant businesses in Vienna that are already operating in a very competitive marketplace."
"Restaurants are already struggling to keep up with rising food and labor costs," said another respondent. "Adding yet another tax, no matter how small, could be the straw that breaks the back of a restaurant that may be on the edge of not making it. It’s a tough industry and I don’t think we should look to them to find something that would be nice to have but not absolutely necessary."
On the other side, some respondents support a higher meals tax to provide a needed recreational facility.
One respondent said "the Town should have public pool for residents."
"No indoor pool or fitness center in the revamped community center was a major disappointment," another respondent said. "This move finally gives us what we wanted back then. Gimme a 1% meal tax all day to get this done."
Another respondent said the facility is "something we need for fitness, and all of our summer swim teams need a place to practice off season - that will help pay year round operating costs."
Some residents were skeptical about the benefits of the pool and fitness center or pointed to nearby recreational facilities from Fairfax County.
"I don’t support it because the pool and fitness center will charge to use it," one respondent wrote. "The current Vienna Community Center classes and fitness should be free. We already pay taxes for these, then get charged to use them! Where are the free services for low income like me?"
"As a formal Cardinal Hill swim member, they have to cap the capacity offer membership to 700 families," another respondent said. "The town of Vienna exceeds this and you are asking both town members and non-town members to pay for a facility that they may not get to use due to cost or limit of participants."
"I think the fitness center is too expensive to build and will be too expensive to maintain," another added. "With other pool and fitness centers around Fairfax, I do not think one should be built in Vienna. Instead I’d like to see an Arts Center for adults and children be built."
"There is a perfectly adequate public pool in Oakton and there are at least two private swimming clubs in Vienna," another shared.
Some suggestions for funding the pool and fitness project from respondents were property taxes, a voter-approved bond, funding from cutting expenses, private developer funding, grants, an annual membership or season pass, and fundraiser with donors.
The survey is non-scientific and is only intended to show Patch reader sentiment. If you want Vienna Town Council to see your comments, you may provide input at the Nov. 18 public hearing, email the full Town Council at [email protected] or call the Town Clerk’s office at 703-255-6304. A town hall was held on Oct. 22.
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