Anderson County, SC Operator Speaks Out About Proposed 2% Hospitality Tax

A proposed 2% hospitality tax in Anderson County, SC, could have a negative impact on some operators in that area. The Anderson County Council will vote mid-September on a measure that would place a 2% tax on all prepared food in the county, including restaurants, convenience stores, catering and maybe even micro markets.

Brent Cromer, president of Cromer Food Services, located in Anderson, S.C., is speaking out against the proposed tax, telling VendingMarketWatch.com that it would lead him to pass price increases on to his customers. Cromer operates vending, micro market and catering services.

Though the council has said vending will not be included, it has yet to determine whether or not micro markets would fall under the 2% hospitality tax. Within the state of South Carolina, micro markets are currently classified as vending, but Cromer fears that may not always be the case. “As micro markets grow, I do believe that they will be reclassified and separated from vending,” he said. “And then in the future state and local governments can have micro markets falling under that 2% hospitality tax, possibly.”

Cromer believes fighting this issue at the local level is important to the overall nationwide conversation.  He is encouraging anyone in the Anderson County area who would be affected by this proposal to get involved and go to the county council meetings.

The council will vote on the proposed tax in mid-September. If passed, the tax will go into effect Oct. 1.