After
slashing state aid earlier this year, the State House gave
municipalities the ability to raise taxes on meals and hotel stays. The
aldermen increased the meals tax from 6.25 to 7 percent and the hotel
tax from 4 to 6 percent, following recommendations made by Mayor Joseph
Curtatone during the June FY2010 budget proceedings.

According
to the mayor's office, the meals tax increase would give the city an
additional $480,311 in FY 2010, while the new hotel tax rate would give
the city an additional $140,404. The new rates will take effect Oct. 1.

Though the board largely supported the measures, Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche spoke out against raising the meals tax.

"It's a small amount of money. I'm just saying, when is enough enough?" Roche said. "I think it's a perception thing."

Roche
also balked when Alderman-at-Large Bill White pointed out the meals tax
increase would mean a 75-cent increase on a $100 tab.

"Every
time we're looking for money, I don't think we should go to the
residents of this city and increase taxes on them," Roche said before
the vote. "75 cents on a $100 bill? I wouldn't mind having that in my
pocket."

Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan joined Roche in voting against the new meals tax.

The
new hotel tax rate passed unanimously, with the board agreeing that
given the prices in Cambridge and Boston visitors would likely not
notice the increase.

"Nobody chooses a hotel on the basis of
what the tax is, and I'll stake my house on this," Ward 2 Alderman
Maryann Heuston said.