Should Salem Use Meals Tax to Cover the CPA?

The Community Preservation Act was approved citywide earlier this month by about 1,500 votes. But in Ward 4, voters rejected it by about 400.

So it should come as no surprise that Ward 4 City Councilor Jerry Ryan proposed that the city use the meals tax to pay the roughly $30 per household that the recently-approved tax would impose.

Mayor Kimberly Driscoll has already said she plans to supplement the CPA tax revenues with meals tax revenues to ensure that Salem gets the maximum match from the CPA funds.

At Thursday's City Council meeting, Ryan suggested that the city cover the entire 3 percent from the meals tax to avoid imposing more taxes on local homeowners.

The issue was referred to a committee of the whole.

What do you think of using the meals tax? Did you support the CPA in Salem?

Let us know in the comments section below.