Virginia county proposes tax on meals to pay for school construction

Loudoun County, Va., voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to endorse a meals tax to raise money for school construction. The measure would grant county supervisors the power to tax meals in restaurants and prepared meals at grocery stores up to 4 percent. If passed, it would raise up to $13 million annually and shrink the $176 million budget gap county officials expect next year. School construction is a perennial problem for Loudoun schools. The schools added 3,000 students this year for a preliminary fall enrollment of 57,000. An additional 2,500 are projected next year. To read The Washington Post article, click here.