Proposed meal-tax increase worries Buena Vista residents

Susan Hogan, owner of Bluedogart Café in downtown Buena Vista, says she has already lowered her prices because most of her customers are elderly and have limited income.

PECKmealtax29--pic-1 — Susan Hogan, owner of Bluedogart Café in downtown Buena Vista, says she has already lowered her prices because most of her customers are elderly and have limited income.

By Stephen Peck

Buena Vista City Manager Jay Scudder estimates a proposed 2 percent meal-tax increase will bring in $84,000 in additional revenues for the cash-strapped city, but restaurant owners and citizens are not happy about that prospect. Restaurant owners worry the tax increase will lead more people to eat at home, hurting their business. Students at Southern Virginia University say the tax might also deter them from frequenting local eateries and prompt them to eat at the university cafeteria more often.

[wpaudio url=”http://journalism.wlu.edu/audio/PECKmealtax29- audio pkg.mp3″ text=”Stephen Peck talks to citizens, restaurant owners and city officials about the proposed hike.”]

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Proposed meal-tax increase worries Buena Vista residents