King George board leaves decision on seller's discount to Aug. 3 after robust public comment

Regina Puckett, the county's commissioner of the revenue, presented a draft ordinance that would remove or cap the 3% seller's discount on the King George meals tax and walked the board through examples showing the discount's effects on small and large businesses. "It would be my recommendation to keep the seller's discount in place," Puckett said, and offered an alternative: keep the 3% deduction but cap it at $200 per month.

Puckett told the board she would provide additional revenue figures on request; commissioners pressed for clearer numbers on how much the discount actually reduces county revenue and whether eliminating it would increase delinquency. The presentation noted the meals-tax base for FY25 was about $1.98 million and that removing the discount was budgeted as roughly $75,000 in additional revenue for FY27.

Several business owners and residents urged the board to delay action and to consider the practical effect on small restaurants. Jeff Stonehill, owner of Machoke Creek Marina & Cafe, said he had spoken with many independent restaurateurs and cited timing and notice issues: "Every single restaurant that I have spoken to opposes the repealing of the seller's discount," he said, adding that owners often cannot attend early-evening meetings. Jay (owner of Roma Pizza) said his shop operates on "a very thin profit margin" and asked the board to consider the impact of the change on day-to-day operations.

Other public commenters urged different remedies. Carrie Bowen said she viewed the discount as an inappropriate credit: "You should not get a credit for collecting other people's money," she said, arguing the county should instead tighten enforcement on late remitters. Multiple speakers called for more and clearer public notice: several callers reported difficulty dialing in and said some local business owners had not learned about the proposal until this meeting.

Several supervisors said they shared concerns about fairness to small businesses and the quality of public notice and recommended tabling a final vote. The board voted to leave the public hearing open and to continue the matter at the Aug. 3 meeting so staff can provide additional revenue estimates, and so more affected businesses and a designated representative can present and answer questions.

Next steps: The board will reopen the public hearing on Aug. 3, continuing the record and allowing staff to provide requested revenue figures and options (retain the discount, cap it at $200, or repeal).