Richmond councilors balk at new tax

The Richmond City Council declined to vote last night on a 1-percent food and beverage tax that would have funded construction of a conference center.

Mayor Sally Hutton asked councilors to table the vote in order to give supporters more time to collect and present details to councilors, according to The Palladium-Item of Richmond. Several members oppose the new tax and voiced displeasure over the amount of time they were given to consider it.

But proponents of the public-private partnership promised they’ll be back next year to attempt to pass the tax again. State law requires a food and beverage tax be passed between Jan. 2 and July 31 to give state officials time to prepare to collect the funds the following year.