Panel advances bill giving James City and York parity on local admissions tax authority

Delegate Anderson introduced HB 550 as a permissive measure to give James City County and York County the same local authority to levy admissions or tourism-related taxes as other Virginia localities. "This is a permissive bill that simply allows the local boards to dictate how they govern," Delegate Anderson said, adding the change would let localities offset property-tax pressure and fund infrastructure and schools.

James City County and tourism stakeholders testified in favor. Elizabeth Parker of Troutman Strategies said the county considered this legislation a priority; Ruth Larson, vice chair of the James City County Board of Supervisors, told the committee that the county had not decided on any specific rate and asked only for parity with neighboring localities. John McLennan, chair of the James City County Board of Supervisors, said permitting the tax would address costs visitors impose on local services.

Opponents included the Virginia Restaurant Lodging and Travel Association, whose representative Tommy Herbert said the measure "will put an immediate 10% increase... onto the attractions in the area," warning it could hurt tourism. The record shows disagreement on the rate and on whether the change would increase prices or simply create parity in taxing authority. Delegate Garrett and others pressed for clarity on which venues would be affected; witnesses and the patron said any rate or imposition would remain a local decision.

The transcript records that the bill was reported out of subcommittee (the clerk’s roll call is noted in the record), though the verbatim vote tally in the transcript is not clearly legible. Next steps: HB 550 will move forward under the legislative calendar for further consideration.