After opposing continual efforts by Durham officials to obtain legislative approval to impose a tax on restaurant food, Rep. Paul Luebke (D-Durham) gave in to pressure yesterday. He’s now agreed not to oppose a bill that evidently will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session. As described in this Herald-Sun story, the bill, if approved, would give Durham officials the go-ahead to put a 1 percent tax hike on the November ballot. Interesting that the story fails to include any perspective from restaurant owners/operators whose businesses would be affected by a tax hike. The story does include an interesting piece of information about Durham’s tax base (emphasis is mine).

Luebke has consistently argued that sales taxes of any sort are regressive and hurt the poor. His comments Thursday made it clear he hasn’t changed his mind.

While local officials who favor the restaurant surcharge “may look to Wake County” as a model because it already has the levy, “we have many, many more people living on the edge in Durham County,” Luebke said. “We are not the same in our socioeconomic base as Wake County.”

But he conceded that the General Assembly long ago crippled the city government’s revenue base by exempting firms in RTP from city property taxes.