Earlier this fall, the South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce Board voted to oppose a tax on meals and prepared foods being considered by the County Board of Supervisors. Prior to reaching this decision, the Board surveyed the Chamber's membership; among those who responded to the survey, members overwhelmingly opposed any new tax on prepared foods. Last May, the County's Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 to study implementing a new 6 percent tax on prepared food and beverages at restaurants and convenience stores throughout the County. This tax would add to the existing 5-7 percent tax already imposed statewide.

The South Fairfax Chamber sent a letter to the County Board opposing the tax, the letter can be found here. Additionally, we’ve been canvasing local South Fairfax businesses to make them aware of the proposed tax and to garner additional opposition to the proposal. Our recent efforts made it clear that many businesses are not aware of this tax proposal. Our sources tell us that the Fairfax Board of Supervisors is likely to roll in a tax proposal into the 2025 Fairfax County budget without a ballot vote for the people of Fairfax.  The Washington Post reported that “voter referendums on meals tax proposals in 1992 and 2016 were defeated by large margins.” In 2019 the Virginia General Assembly passed a law enabling counties to enact meals taxes like this one without a ballot vote of the people.

The Chamber believes that this tax will only serve to further harm restaurants and convenience stores who are struggling with inflation, and staffing issues. This tax will provide a disincentive for residents to go out to eat in the County. If a tax is needed, we believe it should be put on the ballot for voters to decide and not rolled into a budget proposal without voter input.

For more information, please visit our website at: www.southfairfaxchamber.org/advocacy.  To sign the petition opposing the tax visit www.StopTheFoodTax.com and click on ‘Take Action’. You can find the contact information for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors here:  https://www.stopthefoodtax.com/contact/