WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WVEC) -- Visitors and residents of the Historic Triangle may soon be paying more in sales tax.
The General Assembly passed a bill this session that would raise sales tax in Williamsburg, James City County and York County by one percent, taking it from six percent to seven percent.
“It’ll be pretty irritating that my tax is going to go up. I mean, we pay taxes on everything else,” said shopper Jonathan Wood.
The bill proposes that half of the money generated from the sales tax will go toward tourism marketing. The other half will go to localities for public purposes.
Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R-3rd District) introduced the bill and said the area’s economy is based on tourism, but visitation has been flat.
“I think it is absolutely critical on a long-term basis to sustain the economy of the Historic Triangle, to get more money in the market place and we’re not going to ever get it from the General Assembly,” said Norment.
Delegate Brenda Pogge strongly opposed the bill and said it's bad for her constituents.
“They will be unfairly paying the highest sales tax in all of Virginia,” said Pogge. “The people have to pay this tax every time they pass a cash register. They will be paying for marketing of tourism.”
The bill will also repeal Williamsburg’s admissions tax and roll back its increases on food and hotel taxes. It would also require the localities to repeal a $2 hotel tax used for tourism marketing.
Governor Northam has until April 9 to sign the bill into law.