Localities want OK to enact meals tax

POWHATAN -- The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors is asking the General Assembly to allow it and other localities to enact a meals tax without a referendum.

The request is one of several the board included in a resolution of budget and revenue recommendations for the General Assembly to consider during its 2009 session as the county faces a drop in state revenue.

The resolution, advocated by the Virginia Association of Counties, also asks the state to use its Revenue Stabilization Fund -- the rainy-day fund -- to help offset budget reductions and to reconsider recent state-tax exemptions.

The resolution opposes unfunded and underfunded mandates that will impose costs on local governments, and asks the assembly to consider other strategies to mitigate the impact of state cuts on local governments.

Acting County Attorney Roger C. Wiley Jr. said the Association of Counties is not seeking anything it has not sought before.

The localities are seeking the changes to help combat the $3 billion shortfall the state is facing and its subsequent effect on local government.

Supervisor Carson Tucker said that in recent years, the state has told localities that there is no more money and there is nothing a locality can do about it. "This is an attempt to rectify that," Tucker said.

"I'm sure a lot of localities will be sending this [resolution] to their legislators," County Administrator Carolyn Cios said.

Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 223-3678 or .