In a reversal of the public hearing on the tax in May, more than two-thirds of the nearly 30 speakers at the Monroe County Council’s meeting Tuesday were opposed to the proposed 1 percent food and beverage tax which could fund an expansion of the convention center.
Monroe County Commissioners Pat Stoffers and Julie Thomas, and Monroe County Council member Lee Jones all publicly stated that they do not support a food and beverage tax. Jones is the only one of the three that has a vote on it.
Council members opted to skip a brief discussion of the proposed ordinance in favor of listening to more public comment.
The council is authorized to pass a food and beverage tax to help fund a convention, conference or other economic development or tourism-related project, thanks to 2009 state legislation. The tax would affect restaurants, bars and some grocery store purchases, mainly ready-to-eat food items that are purchased in the deli section, such as rotisserie chicken and potato salad.
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