As the Monroe County Council weighs whether to vote for a state-enabled 1 percent tax on food and beverages, members
of the Bloomington City Council voiced their support of the measure at Wednesday’s meeting.
of the Bloomington City Council voiced their support of the measure at Wednesday’s meeting.
With no legislation on their agenda other than make comment, council members Chris Sturbaum and Steve Volan publicly supported the tax, which is supposed to fund the renovation of the downtown convention center.
“I am strongly in favor of the convention center and a 1 percent food and beverage tax,” Sturbaum said. “This is a regional center and people from all over the area appreciate and utilize the downtown and it is a benefit to the region as a whole. The 1 percent is the same for everyone, so there will be no disadvantage to anyone. A $20 meal is 20 cents for the common good.”
State legislation created the tax in 2009 for Monroe County to utilize, and its language specifies that revenues have to be applied to “finance, refinance, construct, operate, or maintain a convention center or related tourism or economic development projects.”
, refinance, construct, operate, or maintain a convention center or related tourism or economic development projects.”
The county council will vote on the tax; if it is approved, separate accounts will be created for city and county collections.
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