Meals Tax Decision Deferred To December By Vienna Town Council

VIENNA, VA — After a public hearing with dozens of speakers, Vienna Town Council opted to defer a decision on the temporary meals tax to Dec. 9.

Town Council heard from 26 public speakers, both for and against the proposal. Common themes mentioned by speakers were the need for a pool and fitness facility in town, the burden of an additional tax on businesses, the proximity of recreational facilities in Oakton and Tysons, the example of the Town Green funded by a temporary meals tax and the history of the Vienna Community Center not including a pool and fitness facility. Among the business owners who shared concerns were Chick-fil-A franchise owner Najee Davis, Caffe Amouri owner Michael Amouri and Hawk & Griffin owner Tom Kyllo.

Town Council members deferred the decision on the temporary meals tax to allow more time for public comment and get more information on the long-term operational costs of the proposed pool and fitness center.

The public hearing concerned using a 1 percent meals tax increase to fund an indoor pool and fitness center facility at the annex property at 301 Center Street S, which the town bought in fall 2020 from Faith Baptist Church. The pool and fitness center facility was identified as the top resident preference from outreach by the town's parks and recreation.

Town government believes meals tax revenue would fund the project sooner — by 2030 —rather than 2040 under the normal capital project funding process. The 1 percent temporary meals tax addition is proposed from Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2034. A temporary meals tax was similarly implemented from 2002 to 2008 to fund the Town Green.

The 1 percent addition would be on top of the 3 percent already charged. The town's meals tax applies to ready-to-eat meals but not standard groceries.