Student Government Association (SGA)

321 Squires Student Center

Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 231-8631
E-mail: sga@vt.edu
www.sga.vt.edu

Resoultion F-10-R1 PASSED NOVEMBER 16, 2010

Senate Sponsor: Kyle Gardiner
House Sponsor: Caroline Gimenez

Resolution to Collect Blacksburg Meals and Lodging Taxes from Campus Visitors

Whereas the Town of Blacksburg levies a 6 percent tax on meals and a 7 percent tax on lodging;

whereas all of Virginia’s 15 four-year public universities—except Virginia Tech—reimburse their host community
for meals and lodging taxes;

whereas Virginia Tech’s recalcitrance to collect the Blacksburg meals and lodging taxes burdens the 14,000
permanent residents of Blacksburg with the cost of government services for 42,000 people and undermines local
business by giving an unfair edge to university-owned restaurants and hotels;

whereas the Virginia Tech Foundation owns both the Hotel Roanoke and the Inn at Virginia Tech but only collects
local taxes at the former;

whereas Virginia Tech already collects the state sales tax on cash and credit purchases at the university’s world-
class dining centers;

whereas collected taxes would help the Town of Blacksburg maintain its high quality of life and keep it safe, clean,
and beautiful for all members of our community;

whereas the Virginia General Assembly has ensured that Virginia Tech students and employees are exempt from
local taxes per state law;

whereas the Town of Blacksburg’s meals and lodging taxes are consumer taxes, effectively putting the tax burden
on campus visitors and not the university;

whereas community leaders, citizens groups, and the local media have brought the discrepancy with the local meals
and lodging tax to light in recent months;

whereas Virginia Tech would improve relations between the university and the town and advance “the stature and
usefulness of the University” by collecting the local meals and lodging taxes;

Therefore be it resolved that the Student Government Association of Virginia Tech urges the university to even the
playing field between the town and campus by collecting the Blacksburg meals taxes on all cash and credit
purchases made by campus visitors at Virginia Tech’s dining facilities.

Be it further resolved that the Student Government Association of Virginia Tech requests the university to arrange
for Hilton Hotels Corporation to collect the meals and lodging taxes at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

______________________________ ________________________________
Speaker of the Senate Speaker of the House

__________________________________
President

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