Panel to review meals tax increase

New marketing and communications committee will strategize on public pitch for proposal

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- A group appointed to look at a proposed increase in the meals tax to help fund city schools plans to meet Thursday.

The new marketing and communications committee meets from 3 to 5 p.m. in the city schools central administrative office, 12 N. Washington St. The panel will discuss strategies for engaging the public about the proposal.

Superintendent Ricky Leonard explained the committee would focus on communicating to the public about the initiative.

"In this regard they are going to look at what I would call a local revenue opportunity, but, more importantly, a way of getting out information to the public and also a way of taking information from the public as to whether or not any proposals of increased local revenues would be seen as a good thing for Winchester schools," Leonard said.

Board member Melvin Thomas chairs the committee. The panel will include representatives of the Winchester Education Foundation, a group that finds ways to support the school system, as well as city and school staff, and one or two parents of pupils. Leonard said he hopes to see membership include representatives from local restaurants and the Top of Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Winchester City Councilman Les Veach, who also serves as that body's liaison to the school board, plans to join the panel.

"So this group will get together and start figuring out ways of developing a public information strategy, of how we can get accurate information out about the possibilities of additional local revenues and the pros as well as the cons, and how we build some support for that effort and take those strategies back to council," Leonard said.

The superintendent said he didn't think the group would necessarily discuss whether such a levy should remain permanent or last only for a specific period before ending. Instead, Leonard said he sees the panel as working more on branding the initiative should it come to pass.