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Chesterfield voters will have final say on meals tax

Posted at 10:54 PM, Apr 25, 2013
and last updated 2013-04-25 22:54:33-04

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -- Chesterfield voters will decide this November if dining out in the county will cost you more money.

Chesterfield supervisors voted unanimously to allow voters to make the decision on whether to implement a meals tax.

Lucritia Davis says she doesn't mind the extra tax added to her food bill, but she knows that not all customers feel the same way.

"Some people may travel to another location just because they don't want to pay the tax. They may even burn their gas to get there but might say that's okay because I don't have to pay the extra tax for the meal" Davis said.

Others like Tracey Conway say they are still on the fence about whether or not they support the tax.

Conway says he would have to be assured that the money would go to pay for critical services.

He says he just would not want to see wasteful spending.

Chesterfield leaders predict that a 1 percent tax could generate $4 million per year.

They would use the money to fix aging school facilities. The money would also be used to update radio systems for first responders in the county.

Supervisors requested the Chesterfield County Circuit Court order a referendum. The United States Justice Department would also have to give clearance so that the issue would be put on the November 5th ballot.

If the measure is approved in November, the Board of Supervisors would then have to determine the amount of the tax which would be no greater than 4 percent.