Published: September 26, 2009 09:35 pm      

New revenue on the menu?

BLUEFIELD — City officials are hoping a prepared food tax could help to generate new revenue for Bluefield.

The city Board of Directors are asking lawmakers in Charleston to consider the optional tax for municipalities, Mayor Linda Whalen said.

“The Mercer County Economic Development Authority has actually put together a presentation on it,” Bluefield Mayor Linda Whalen said. “I’ll be meeting this month with all of the mayors from West Virginia through a municipal league meeting, and I intend to pass out the same information to them because it is going to take multiple areas of support to get this to pass.”

If adopted by the Legislature, Whalen said no city, town or county would be required to enact the prepared food tax plan.

“Municipalities and counties will have the option to pass it or not to pass it,” Whalen said. “It would be exactly like the hotel and motel tax. This would certainly be a boost for the city, but the people who would really benefit from this is the county.”

Whalen said tax revenue generated from restaurants along the Interstate 77 corridor could provide an economic boon to the county. She said the majority of the visitors at those restaurants are from out of state.

“That would be a huge economic impact for the county,” Whalen said. “It would be a real opportunity.”

Mercer County Commission President Joe Coburn said the issue of a prepared food tax will be discussed by the commission in the coming months.

“We haven’t made any decisions on it,” Coburn said. “But we’ll be talking about it more. We will be discussing it some more from time to time.”

In the neighboring city of Princeton, officials haven’t had any discussions at this time regarding a prepared food tax, City Manager Wayne Shumate said.

“I know that it is being talked about,” Shumate said. “I know it is being considered by the Legislature. But as far as city council taking any position, I can’t recall. I think you would have to see what the bill would entail, and what would be the impact. It is an issue that the city council members would have to consider.”

Whalen said city officials in Bluefield are asking Delegate John Shott, R-Mercer, to try to introduce the prepared food tax legislation in January.

“It is something that we are really going to have to try to promote,” Whalen said. “I’ve spoke to people from different communities when we were at our municipal league meeting in August. The initial reaction from many was negative. But what they need to understand is it is an option. No one has to do it. But when you are in a border area like we are, it can make a huge difference.”

Whalen said Bluefield, Va., has a prepared food tax, and is reaping significant tax benefits from it. Whalen said many people who visit restaurants on the Virginia-side don’t realize they are paying a meals tax.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com