Restaurant Association Wants Arena Commitment Honored

As elected county and city officials toss the idea of a sports arena back and forth at regular meetings, the North Carolina Restaurant Association says it will demand that the Wake County prepared meals tax be repealed.

Jerry Williams, executive vice president of the NCRA says the restaurant industry agreed not to fight the hotel room and restaurant

taxes in 1991 because officials said sports, cultural and arts facilities would be built with collected tax money to enhance regional development. Williams says the industry will now fight for repeal of those taxes if the proposed sports arena is not built.

This move adds yet another complication to the ongoing battle over a proposed 21,300 seat facility. Originally, the facility was going to carry a price tag of $66 million. More recently, it has been proposed that the arena be equipped to house major league hockey, which would increase the cost to $132 million.

Wake County Commissioners voted Monday night to meet jointly with Raleigh City Council before making a decision on proposal.