Arlington, Lexington approve local option taxes

The Board of Selectmen chairman, Kevin Greeley, said the tax will generate $200,000 annually for the town. By increasing the hotel and motel tax from 4 percent to 6 percent, the town can expect an additional $60,000, Greeley said. Vince Barrett, a representative from Arlington’s lone hotel, Homewood Suites on Massachusetts Avenue, spoke against the tax increase, saying he might have to lower the hotel’s rates to stay competitive. Town Meeting also voted to place a binding question on the town election ballot next spring that would allow selectmen to license the town’s three package stores to sell liquor in addition to the beer and wine they now offer. The change would also require approval by the state Legislature.

Lexington

Town Meeting approved a tax on restaurant meals and an increase in the levy on hotel stays in Lexington on Wednesday, as the three-day meeting wrapped up. The local option meals tax will tack on a charge of 0.75 percent to restaurant bills. Norm Cohen, selectmen chairman, said the tax would equal a charge of 23 cents on the average restaurant bill of $30 in Lexington. Town Meeting also approved an increase to the hotel and motel occupancy tax from 4 percent to 6 percent, but the body voted to delay the increase until July 1 . Combined, the two measures are expected to generate about $500,000 in tax revenue for the town each year. Members voted Monday to postpone an article indefinitely that would have allowed selectmen to sell or lease the former Munroe School building, which houses the Munroe Center for the Arts. Lexington officials estimate the building needs about $2.3 million in repairs, but Town Meeting members debated whether the town should sell the building, and what the sale price should be, said Town Clerk Donna Hooper .