RALEIGH, NC (March 18, 2024) — The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (NCRLA) has expressed firm opposition to the City of Southport’s request to impose a 1% prepared food and beverage tax. In a letter sent to the Southport Board of Aldermen, NCRLA warned that the proposal would unfairly burden working families and small businesses already grappling with rising food costs and inflation.
The association also pushed back on the notion that the tax would primarily impact tourists, noting that year-round residents would shoulder most of the cost.
“This is a year-round tax,” wrote NCRLA President & CEO Lynn Minges. “When your tourists leave for the summer season, the tax will not go with them.”
NCRLA urged city leaders to consider more equitable funding options, such as broader retail-based sales tax adjustments in coordination with neighboring municipalities.
Additional Information:
Southport Leaders Approve Resolution to Add 1% Meals Tax at Restaurant — WECT News 6
About NCRLA
The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association serves to advance and protect the interests of more than 20,000 businesses that employ 9% of the state’s workforce and generate more than $35.8 billion in sales annually. Learn more at www.ncrla.org.
