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Stephens City council adopts resolution opposing proposed tourism‑tax shift
Summary
Stephens City adopted a resolution opposing proposed state legislation that would shift tourism taxes to local residents, removing a pejorative term and personal references from the draft before voting unanimously in favor (5‑0, one absent).
Stephens City’s Town Council on Feb. 4 adopted a resolution opposing a Virginia General Assembly proposal that council members said would effectively shift tourism‑related tax burdens onto local residents.
Mayor Michael A. Diaz asked the clerk to read the resolution by title, and the council then debated wording and edits. Council reached consensus to remove the word “sham” from the draft and to delete personal references to a state legislator before taking a roll‑call vote. The motion carried with five ayes and Councilmember Brian Woodruff recorded absent.
Councilwoman Regina Swygert‑Smith said the measure before the General Assembly was “short‑sighted” and warned it could “destroy small towns and force them to raise other taxes to make up the deficit.” Mayor Diaz framed the issue in revenue terms and suggested the meals tax helps towns monitor and hold businesses accountable through comparisons of monthly gross receipts and business‑license filings.
The adopted resolution opposes a proposal described in the draft as shifting the effective cost of tourism taxes to local citizens; the council did not adopt any ordinance or local tax change during the meeting. The resolution’s text will stand as the town’s formal position for transmittal to the relevant state legislators and officials.
