RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Richmond’s city council has approved an increase in the city’s meals tax that is supposed to raise an additional $9 million a year for schools.
The council voted 7-2 Monday night in favor of the bill, supported by Mayor Levar Stoney.
The legislation increases the meals tax at city restaurants from 6 percent to 7.5 percent. Restaurant patrons also pay the regular 5.3 percent sales tax. So the total tax on a restaurant bill will increase from 11.3 percent to 12.8 percent.
News outlets report that the city plans to use the money to borrow $150 million over the next five years, which will help fund a plan to build five new schools and renovate two others.
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