ROANOKE - In more than two weeks, Roanoke City Council will vote on a meal tax. While council members say they have heard opposition to the tax, a group of local educators rallied together to get people in support of it.
With posters in-hand and children by their side, teachers and parents say the tax will benefit Roanoke City Schools.
People at the rally wanted to make education their priority.
"On April 5th, I think there will be a majority of council that favors the meal tax because it's important we do everything we can to support our schools,” said Vice Mayor, Sherman Lea.
The 2% meal tax would generate $4 million over two years.
People signed their names to show their support of the proposal.
"We need this for our children. We need this for the urban children especially and we need our teachers,” said Bettina Mason with the Roanoke Education Association.
Local politicians stopped by to show their support.
"I think education is so precious that you don't touch it, you add to it,” said Delegate Onzlee Ware.
City Councilman, Court Rosen added, “To help our schools avoid getting set back years, let's keep a quality education, keep a promise to our children."
Lea believes with the state budget cuts, there’s extra responsibility placed on the local government.
"I think the Governor and our state legislators have pushed it down to us. I think they have forced us to do what I think they should have done in Richmond,” he said.
It’s a rally put together in about two weeks.
"We decided we wanted to do it and we wanted to do it now. So we just reached out to community groups and the word spread and I think people are hungry to speak out,” said Kelly Miller with Roanoke Education Association.
"I feel so good. I feel so good about this turnout,” said Mason.
Teachers at the rally also suggested people ask their favorite Roanoke restaurants if they are in favor of the meal tax.
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