Meal tax has helped towns financially, including Bedford

The meals tax, a local revenue policy which has provided much relief to cities and towns in hard economic times:

As of June, 146 municipalities had adopted a local meals tax, which lawmakers approved in 2009 to give towns and cities another way to collect local revenue as state aid and property tax collections sank during the recession.

“The fact that such a substantial number has adopted it already is not only impressive, but speaks to the fact that this is a valuable tool," said Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

"Every municipality is combing its budget these days for any place to have savings or to cut services," said Betsy DeWitt, Brookline's selectmen chairwoman. "(The meals tax) has been a contributing factor for us, such that we've been able to keep our services level and intact." [Full Article: Wicked Local - The Bedford Minuteman]