To prevent a raise in real estate and property taxes to help fund new schools, Rockingham County officials are attempting to enact a 4 percent meals tax, according to The Daily News Record. Officials are hoping the meal tax from tourists in the county and at Massanutten will cover about 60 percent of the cost needed to operate current schools.

This is the second time county officials have attempted to get the meal tax approved, and this time voted to place the issue on November's ballot. Which makes it an important issue for homeowners to be aware of and to discuss with other voters to ensure that funding new schools does not become a burden on property and homeowners.

"Officials in Rockingham County are going to try for a second time to get out-of-towners to help pay for new schools.

On Wednesday, the Board of Supervisors took the first step to enact a 4 percent meals tax. The board unanimously approved a resolution to petition the Rockingham County Circuit Court to place the tax on the November ballot.

If certified by the judge and approved by voters in November, county officials say the meals tax will raise an estimated $600,000 needed for operations at Cub Run Elementary, River Bend Elementary and East Rockingham High schools.

Supervisors say they like this type of tax because tourists at Massanutten and other visitors to the county would pay about 60 percent of it.

The tax would not apply to restaurants located inside towns or for nonprofit fundraisers, such as food vendors at the county fair."

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