Virginia Tech gains an unfair edge by not collecting meals tax on campus and doing so would level the playing field and help the town of Blacksburg, a grassroots group says.
The members of Play Fair, Tech want to tiffany heart link bracelet impart that message as they begin a campaign to urge Tech to collect the tax.
Blacksburg restaurants charge a 6 percent tax for meals purchases. The university is state property, and state code doesn't require it to collect the town's meals tax.
"It's really about the fairness issue," said Michael Sutphin, a member of the group.
The group formed in March, and Sutphin said the focus now is to get signatures from people in the community on a petition the group will present to Tech in August. According to the group's website, , the petition has more than 200 signatures so far. Petitions are available in various Blacksburg restaurants, some of which are listed on the site.
Sutphin said the group doesn't call for the meals tax to be applied to student meal plans, but only to cash and credit card sales at campus dining halls.
"Where the law stands is the town can't compel the university to collect the tax. ... If it is collected, they would have to do it voluntarily," Town Manager Marc Verniel said earlier this year.
The meals tax issue on campus has been talked about for decades by both community leaders and residents.
Mayor Ron Rordam wrote letters to Tech President Charles Steger in 2009 asking for the school's cooperation in collecting the town's meals tax at its restaurants, as well as its lodging tax at the Inn at Virginia Tech. Rordam wrote that the town "is not looking to tax Virginia Tech or its employees," and the university would receive portions of the revenue generated.
Earlier this year, Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said because the meals tax issue is important to town officials, "We'll continue to address it to try to resolve the concern. I just don't know if we'll be able to do what people want us to do, though."
ed hardy hoodies University officials don't think state code gives Tech the authority to voluntarily collect the tax, Hincker said.
Officials on both sides say they will continue to discuss the issue and explore options. They also say traditionally the town and Tech have a good working relationship.
Sutphin said especially in tough economic times, the additional revenue generated by an on-campus tax would be beneficial to the town. A town of Blacksburg study showed that collecting meals tax from Tech would yield the town an additional $200,000 annually, Sutphin said.
Furthermore, implementing the tax wouldn't cost Tech anything unless staff had to reprogram cash registers. Like everyone else who collects the tax, the university would get to keep 3 percent of the total tax collected, he said.
fake nike shoes "This is a win-win situation for the town and the university," he said.
Play Fair, Tech will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 2. The location has not been announced, but those interested can visit for more information.
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