August 26, 2019: Meet with County Administrator
Notes from the meeting
Met with County Administrator, Bobbi Tassinari to explain situation and seek advice on how to resolve. I explained that this was an open risk to by business and I didn't believe the meals tax when written ever envisioned a business such as mine. Explained that I’ve reviewed code but didn’t come to her to do a line by line code review with her, and would welcome the opportunity with the County Attorney to explain my interpretation so this could be resolved
I presented three possible solutions to the move on from this problem:
1. Continue the disagreement between the Commissioner and I may end up in litigation and all of this would become public.
- KW becomes the county going after their farmers and small business owners for taxes without justification
- People ask why now, and why haven't they been collected to date? What about back taxes? Wasn’t the Commissioner supposed to track this?
- Not a good use of anybody's time or money
2. Amend the code - focus on a positive spin
- Highlight the FDA definition of serving size to avoid any other interpretation
- Clearly make all prepared salads for off site consumption free from collecting meal tax free
- Or add an exception for supporting local farm businesses
- Promote healthy eating choices
- Consistent regardless of who is selling the product
- Tax benefit to the citizens – pay less for healthy food choices
- No impact to the county as the taxes are not being collected today!
3. Written letter from KW County saying I am not responsible for collecting meals tax (sample upon request)
- Easiest and best interest for the county and my business
- Akin to a special use permit - no one else in county is doing what I'm doing.