On behalf of Downtown Durham Inc., I write in support of the 1 percent "Prepared (key word is "prepared") Food Tax referendum. "Prepared" foods mean meals from restaurants, banquets, catering and delis -- not groceries.

WHO PAYS AND HOW MUCH?

This tax provides for consumer choice. Those who elect to eat prepared food will pay a 1 percent tax on the bill. A $10 meal pays 10 cents. A $25 meal pays 25 cents. A $50 meal pays 50 cents.

If you prefer to buy groceries and prepare your food at home, you will not pay a 1 percent prepared food tax.

Forty percent of the projected revenue generated by the tax will be paid by visitors to Durham, and nonresident commuters. In other words, those people who enjoy many of the features that make Durham special, but have never had to help us pay to build or maintain these facilities, now will be helping the Durham taxpayer.

WHO AND WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Actually, I should ask, who doesn't benefit?

Have you and your family or friends enjoyed the Carolina Theatre, St. Joseph's/Hayti Heritage Center, the Arts Council, the Museum of Life and Science, or the Farmers' Market? Have you ever enjoyed one of Durham's trails? Do you believe Durham needs a history museum or a museum honoring Black Wall Street?

Do you support the use of these facilities for Durham's public and private school students? Would you like Durham to have funding to enhance its community appearance? Do you believe our community should expand our work force development opportunities?

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, then you will benefit from this tax.

A portion of the revenue will be deployed by the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau to tell Durham's story. According to the bureau, this additional marketing effort will generate $37 million in additional visitor spending each year and more than $200 million by 2019. The new spending will generate an additional $2 million in local tax revenue in the early years and up to $10 million annually by 2019 to help fund other basic government services, offsetting the burden on local property taxes.

THIS IS A PROGRESSIVE, NOT REGRESSIVE, TAX!

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, eating out is a progressive tax because lower-income households spend a lower percentage of their income on restaurant meals than higher-income households; and, lower-income households spend a proportionally higher percentage of their income on housing than higher-income households.

WHO ELSE HAS THIS TAX?

Have you ever had a restaurant meal in Wake County? Hillsborough? Charlotte? If you have, you have paid this tax.

WHO ENDORSES THIS TAX?

As of Sept. 26, Downtown Durham Inc., the Durham Chamber, the Durham Tourism Development Authority, Durham Central Park, Preservation Durham, the Museum of Life and Science, St. Joseph's Historical Foundation, Durham Arts Council, Cultural Master Plan Advisory Committee, Durham Open Space & Trails Commission, the Parrish Street Advocacy Group and the Peoples' Alliance have all endorsed the Prepared Food Tax. There will be many others joining our team.

A "yes" vote on Nov. 4 will allow our community to grow its trails system, its arts and culture institutions, to fund new museums and continue to make our community a better place to live, work and play.

DDI encourages you to vote "yes" for the Prepared Food Tax in order to help us make Durham a more special community for our children and our children's children.

(Submitted by Bill Kalkhof)