GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Would a one p.c tax on ready meals make a distinction in Greensboro?
Mayor Nancy Vaughan believes it will generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in income every year.
He used the State of the Metropolis deal with Wednesday night time to speak about shifting ahead with the tax.
Vaughan says the income would complement amenities just like the Greensboro Coliseum and the varied sports activities venues that appeal to vacationers.
A tax on ready meals would add a one p.c cost to your invoice should you eat out the place the tax is carried out. It's a technique the mayor believes will get guests to contribute extra as an alternative of simply individuals who already reside in Greensboro.
Vaughan touted a number of financial successes over the previous yr, together with Toyota's electrical battery plant.
Vaughan says 2023 was a giant indicator of town's development and pointed to the rise in sports activities tourism.
The Sports activities Enterprise Journal ranked Greensboro second within the nation for internet hosting and attracting sporting occasions with out a main staff.
“To be ranked quantity two in the whole nation … is a big designation,” Vaughan mentioned.
He pointed to locations just like the Greensboro Coliseum and the Steven Tanger Middle for the Performing Arts to draw vacationers.
“We’ve got folks coming from all around the nation to take part in what Greensboro has to supply,” he mentioned.
Vaughan says supporting metropolis amenities just like the Greensboro Coliseum and sports activities venues requires a steady funding supply. He talked about cities like Charlotte and Raleigh as comparisons.
“They're paying for all these issues with a tax on ready meals,” he mentioned. “For a ten greenback invoice, I’d add ten cents to the invoice.”
Guilford County is the fifth most visited county within the state, adopted by Mecklenburg County and Wake County.
“Charlotte and Raleigh are forward of us, they usually're forward of us with meals tax cash,” Vaughan mentioned.
After the discussion board, FOX8 requested the mayor what it will take to implement the tax and when it might occur.
“We don't have a timeline proper now on what that will seem like… We’ve got to go earlier than the legislature. “I don’t know if we’d do this within the quick session or wait till the following session, however we would want their authority to impose it or take it to a referendum, and that hasn’t been determined but,” Vaughan mentioned.
There are individuals who oppose a potential tax.
Final summer time, the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Affiliation despatched Vaughan a letter in opposition. They argued that it’s too quickly after the pandemic to impose further prices on customers.