Your morning coffee and takeout lunch will cost more in Fairfax County, where county supervisors have approved adding a 4% food and beverage tax to next year’s budget.
Some residents said 4% didn’t seem like much.
Stream NBC4 newscasts for free right here, right now.
WATCH HERE“They have to raise rates when they have to,” one resident said.
“It’s Chick-fil-A – I’ll do anything,” one man joked.
We have the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily.
SIGN UP But others said every little increase adds up.
“I feel like everything is just going up,” another resident said.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 9-1 for the tax. Pat Herrity, the lone Republican on the board, was the only supervisor to vote no.
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia news, events and updates
The board said imposing the tax is a way to avoid cutting services and reduce the county’s reliance on property taxes.
Some small business owners have said they fear it could cause people to think twice about what they spend.
Here’s what the food tax will apply to
The 4% meals tax will apply to all prepared food sold by restaurants within the county, except for the cities of Clifton, Fairfax, Herndon and Vienna, which already have their own food and beverage tax.
The new tax will apply to locations and offerings including:
- restaurants
- fast food restaurants
- cafes
- food trucks
- caterers
- bars
- prepared food at grocery stores
- movie theater food
The tax is set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.
The tax is expected to generate more than $60 million in the first six months. The final vote on the measure is scheduled for Tuesday.
