Braintree Meals Tax Passes Easily Through Final Vote

Following years of on-and-off debate among town officials, residents and business owners, the local option meals tax was enacted quickly Tuesday night, sailing through the Town Council with support from the mayor and a significant majority of councilors.

The approval boosts the tax at Braintree restaurants from 6.25 percent to 7 percent, with the town retaining the revenue on a quarterly basis. It is scheduled to take effect in July.

Councilor-at-large Sean Powers voted against the tax. All others voted in favor, expect for Paul "Dan" Clifford and Ronald DeNapoli, who were absent. Clifford voted "present" in committee last week and had previously said he withheld support because the tax would affect residents and businesses directly.

Powers also refused to support the measure because of what he said will be its impact on the local economy. Lawmakers on Beacon Hill have fallen short in supporting communities with local aid in recent years, Powers said, but that does not mean Braintree should stop looking for creative ways to generate savings instead of relying on a new tax.

"[Legislators] are really shifting the burden onto the local officials and local businesses," Powers said.

Mayor Joseph Sullivan spoke in favor of the tax Tuesday night, extolling its "tangible benefits." He put it in his fiscal 2014 budget at an estimated $700,000 in revenue for the first year and laid out a number of capital projects that will benefit, including school security and renovations to the Old Thayer Public Library.

No councilors spoke with the mayor about the tax during the meeting, though they have previously held many meetings on the measure and discussed it with Braintree business leaders. No one from the public spoke.

"It's been vetted quite extensively," Council President Charles Kokoros said.

The Braintree Chamber of Commerce opposed the ordinance.

However, the chamber did say in a statement earlier this month that "we applaud the Mayor & The Council for taking such opposition into account in arriving at their decision to earmark the meals tax proceeds for capital improvements which will result in Braintree becoming a more livable and attractive community both for its residents and its businesses."

Councilor John Mullaney, who proposed the meals tax twice before and has made it a prominent part of his political platform, said that he was satisfied the tax was finally enacted, but not because of any personal achievement.

"I don't consider the vote to be a victory for me, I consider it to be a victory for the town," Mullaney said.