The Vienna Town Council approved 1 percent increase to the town’s meals tax yesterday, raising the rate to 4 percent. This tax increase will take effect on January 1, 2026.
This tax applies to all prepared foods sold by restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and other food service establishments within the Town of Vienna. The vote was delayed from January to allow the council more time to review the proposal.
This tax increase had initially been proposed as a temporary measure to expire in 2036. However, the final measure that the board approved did not include a sunset clause; it is a permanent increase.
Fairfax County will also implement a 4 percent meals tax starting January 1. For businesses inside the Town of Vienna, only the Vienna meals tax will apply; the Fairfax County meals tax will only apply to businesses outside of the Town of Vienna.
There has been some opposition online to this tax increase from Vienna businesses. Before the vote, Hawk & Griffin, a British pub in Vienna, posted on Facebook against the meals tax increase. “Restaurants operate on razor thin margins and generally make their profit from 3 out of every 100 guests. Even tiny changes to our top line could make the difference of a restaurant’s success or failure,” Hawk & Griffin said.
The Vienna Town Council has discussed using the additional funds from the higher tax to build a community aquatics and fitness center on the former Annex property on Center Street, which would open in 2030. Currently, the 3 percent tax rate supports capital improvements like street and park maintenance and facility improvements.
Now that the increase has passed, the council will discuss potential capital projects at a September 15 work session.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
