It’s time to implement a food and beverage tax in Monroe County, expand the convention center and reap the benefits.
It will take a while to get all that done, but that should be the prize at the end of the many steps ahead for the Monroe County Council.
The council began discussing the idea at a meeting Tuesday. Legislation to enable the council to pass such a tax was approved in 2009 by the General Assembly.
Officials estimate a 1 percent food and beverage tax could generate about $2.5 million per year to be used by the county for a dedicated purpose, in this case, presumably, to expand the convention center. However, an advisory council would be set up to decide how to divide revenue from the tax.
There undoubtedly will be a lot of opposition to the proposal, because, after all, it is a tax. And for many people, tax is a bad word.
But we’ve supported the notion of a food and beverage tax for a long time and continue to do so. The 1 percent would not be onerous for those who go to restaurants or bars to eat and drink. If someone had lunch out for $10, a dime would be added to a bill. Those who can afford to spend $100 for a dinner for two would be able to spend another $1.
People who buy groceries and eat at home would not be affected.
A reasonable question is: “What would these diners be getting for their money?”
The answer is, significantly increased economic activity from visitors who come to Bloomington and Monroe County.
A consultant’s report in 2011 estimated an expanded convention center could generate an estimated $19.7 million a year in direct and indirect spending from visitors who would use the new facility. The study noted the businesses that would be helped the most would be hotels, restaurants and bars. But other retail stores, service stations, arts and entertainment venues and other assorted establishments could also benefit from the additional number of visitors.
...
See the full article here:
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2013/02/27/digitalcity.dedicating-food-and-beverage-tax-to-convention-center-still-good-idea.sto
