Posted: 7:45 PM May 14, 2012
Reporter: Tim Wronka

New Market Meals Tax

An empty podium is all that came before New Market's Town Council Monday night.

Taxes and fees are going up this year. Yet, no one spoke up at the public hearing. That is despite the council knowing not everyone in town is happy with it.

“I can think over my last few years of service where the public has really questioned things, and made us go back and take a good look at things and maybe make some changes,” said Charles “Eddie” Litten, a councilman with the New Market Town Council.

The near $4-million budget includes improvements to local streets and to help pay for those improvements is a one percent hike on the meal tax. This is something sure to affect local restaurants.

Water and sewer fees are also going up by 10-percent.

“We're still seeing increases in water and sewer rates, to offset to a degree those mandated changes to waster water treatment plants,” said New Market Town Manager Evan Vass.

The cigarette tax is also going up from 10 to 15 cents a pack and that is expected to generate $70,000.

The idea is to get the money from those that stop off Interstate-81.

“We look at the interstate interchange as a revenue source. Both tourist and people simply passing through.”

Town employees are getting a 7-percent raise but most of that will go toward funding Virginia's retirement system, a new state law passed this year.

For now, the budget most likely pass since no one objected.

“I think the citizens of the town are really missing an excellent opportunity to discuss issues with us on the council,” said Litten.

The town council has until the end of June to pass the budget. It's expected to pass much sooner than that.

Possibly as soon as next week's regular meeting.

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