Diners and smokers will pay a little more in consumption taxes to the town of White Stone in the future.
Council on December 6 voted unanimously, 4-0, to pass separate ordinances which would raise the town’s current cigarette tax rate and implement a prepared meal tax.
Following a motion by councilman William Hubbard, council approved a 33% increase on its cigarette tax from 15 cents to 20 cents per pack.
Hubbard also made the motion to establish a 2.5% tax on prepared food.
According to town manager Patrick Frere, both ordinances are effective immediately but the meals tax will probably not be seen by customers until February 1.
“We need to give businesses a month or two to get procedures in place [for charging the tax],” he said.
As stated in the ordinance, the meals tax will apply to all…
