As expected, Williamsburg City Council voted unanimously Thursday to raise the city’s meals and lodging taxes, and to impose a new 10% admissions tax on most events.
The increases take effect immediately.
City Council drew considerable heat from local restaurateurs when the meals tax increase was first proposed last year during planning for the current budget. In response, city council asked staff to lower the meals tax from the planned 7% to 6.5%, and provide a 2% discount to cover restaurants’ credit card fees.
Council also voted to hold off action on the new taxes until Thursday’s meeting.
No one from the industry appeared at Thursday’s session to speak during the Open Forum part of the meeting. Resident Sabrina Kirkland said she thought the taxes would hurt local business, and encouraged the city to cut its capital spending budget.
Ron Kirkland, president of the hotel and motel association, spoke in favor of taxes that he said would come from the pockets of visitors and “not ...have a …