Phyllis Finley leaned to her right, waving her sign that read “Penny saved
, penny earned” as cars passed by her on College Avenue. A car honked, and she waved her sign to acknowledge the honk.
, penny earned” as cars passed by her on College Avenue. A car honked, and she waved her sign to acknowledge the honk.
Finley, along with about 20 other people, gathered Tuesday before the Monroe County Council meeting, marching from the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center to the Monroe County Courthouse in order to show their opposition to the proposed 1 percent food and beverage tax.
“We’re here because we’re the ones paying the tax,” said William Ellis, who organized the rally. “Meetings like this are where we get our voices heard.”
A 2009 state law allows the county council to implement a 1 percent tax on items purchased in restaurants
and bars in the county. The law requires that the money raised by the tax is used for a conference center, convention center or other tourism-related activity. Money from the tax has tentatively been earmarked for a convention center expansion.
and bars in the county. The law requires that the money raised by the tax is used for a conference center, convention center or other tourism-related activity. Money from the tax has tentatively been earmarked for a convention center expansion.
Proponents of the expansion estimate it could add about $15 million and 200 new jobs to the county’s economy. The convention center is supported in part by the innkeeper’s tax, which raises about $2 million to be split between the center and Visit Bloomington, the local tourism promotion agency.
But for those who rallied, some of whom also spoke at the meeting, the case has yet to be made for both the expansion and the tax.
“I don’t think they’ve proven this is necessary,” said Danny Shields, one of the marchers.
At the county council meeting, about a dozen people spoke against the tax, many asking that it be presented as a referendum that would allow citizens a chance to vote.
Others said the tax placed the financial burden on residents for a tourist facility.
Not everyone who spoke about the tax at the meeting protested, or even objected to the tax.
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