Vienna considers penny meals tax to fund indoor pool, fitness center

VIENNA, Va. — The Vienna Town Council is considering a penny meals tax to help fund a new pool and fitness center.

The one-percent tax increase, which would be in effect for ten years before sunsetting, would enable the facility to open by 2030, according to town officials. Otherwise, officials said the earliest the facility could open would be in 2040 through the town’s capital improvement planning process.

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“I’m certainly willing to pay that to fund the annex,” said Ed Wagaman, who has lived in Vienna with his wife Ann for 35 years. “I know taxes are a sore issue for a lot of people, but it’s okay with me personally.”

“Anyone that’s eating out regularly is not going to stop eating out for this one percent,” Michael Jreige of Vienna told 7News. “Here locally, this economy can eat that one percent.”

At recent town meetings, some residents have spoken out against the proposed meal tax increase, questioning its value to the business community.

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“If we’re going to divert money, there’s other projects potentially that the business community would value that they would probably be willing to contribute, particularly the restaurant community, towards those costs,” one resident said at an October meeting.

Another resident questioned why Fairfax County isn’t helping foot the bill, saying, “There’s three other very similar facilities real close by – they paid for those and we can use those, and they’ll be able to use this one.”

Town officials have stated construction of the facility is projected to cost between $21 million and $26.5 million. If approved, the tax increase would go into effect beginning in July.