Middlebury is the latest town to adopt a local option tax. Yesterday, the town voted 305 to 102 in favor of a one percent tax on rooms, meals, alcohol and sales.
The estimated $700,000 raised annually from the taxes will be used to build a new bridge across Otter Creek at Cross Street.
The tax will go into effect in October of this year, and will sunset in 30 years, when a bond for the bridge expires. Construction of the bridge is expected to begin next spring.
A second bridge across Otter Creek has been a topic of discussion in town since the 1950’s when a bridge outside the village burned, and the town voted against replacing it. The new bridge is expected to provide an alternative route for emergency vehicles, and to ease downtown traffic.
Since the legislature approved local option taxes under Act 60, nine towns have adopted one or all of the one percent taxes, and most towns use the revenue to offset municipal taxes.