Restaurant Association Slams Meals Tax Proposal
The Massachusetts Restaurant Association is calling Gov. Deval Patrick's proposals to increase state and local meals taxes "blatantly unfair."
Patrick proposed increasing the state sales tax on meals from 5 percent to 6 percent and also proposed allowing towns the option of adding an additional 1 percent meals tax, as well. The increases are a way to boost city and state revenue during the dismal current economy.
But the association said it's unfair to tax restaurants at a time when their customers are struggling to save money.
Peter Christie, the association's president, said the proposed tax increases single out restaurants. He said the restaurant industry is not unlike the automobile industry and is "reeling from the economic slowdown."
"Would anyone suggest targeting automobiles for a local tax? Of course not, but that is exactly what the administration is suggesting to us," Christie said in a press release.
The Southborough-based association represents 5,000 restaurants across the state.
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