Selectmen seek comment on optional meals tax
Date: 1/4/2010
Jan. 4, 2010WILBRAHAM - The Board of Selectmen will take up the subject of the local option meals tax the board's regular meeting Jan. 11 at approximately 7:45 p.m.
The state legislature voted this past summer to allow cities and towns to increase the meals tax, imposing an additional .75 percent on the state's rate of 6.25 percent. The increased amount will come back to cities and towns as new revenue. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) projects that the optional tax could generate roughly $110,000 annually for Wilbraham.
The selectmen welcome comment from restaurant owners and patrons. The selectmen will decide whether or not to place the option on the Annual Town Meeting warrant. If they do, the town will have an opportunity to vote yes or no. The local option tax can only be imposed with approval of the Town Meeting.
According to the DOR, 69 of the 351 cities and towns have adopted the local option tax. This includes 13 towns in western Hampden County, including Wilbraham's nearest neighbors Springfield and Palmer. The new tax will add $.75 cents in tax to a meal tab of $100. All food establishments providing meals already collect the state tax; the DOR will collect the increased amount and return it to the cities and towns which have adopted the local option.
