BLACKSBURG, Va.—
Blacksburg town leaders want Virginia Tech to start collecting local taxes on meals and lodging on campus. But, university leaders said they don't have the legal authority to do that.
Now there is a grassroots effort to get Tech to quote "play fair."
About a year ago, Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam wrote a letter to Tech's president asking the school to collect the local six percent meals and seven percent lodging tax on concessions at sporting events, meals and lodging at the Inn at Virginia Tech and food and beverages purchased the school's dining facilities.
This week, Tech responded.
A letter to the mayor explains that all taxes collected by Tech must be sent to the state.
Blacksburg business owners said Tech should also collect the local meals and lodging tax because it's what's fair.
"We all use the same services. We all share the same town.:58 We all share the same needs to grow and compete," said Margaret Breslau, a Blacksburg business owner.
The town is not asking for students or Tech employees to pay these local taxes.
Concessions at Lane Stadium are already being taxed because a third party manages those.
Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said this is simply a legal matter and that the university works well with the town in many aspects.
This local tax, if implemented by Tech, would generate as little as $40,000 and there's an estimate as great as $300,000 a year.
