On Nov. 3, the residents of Rockingham County will have the opportunity to vote for a county meals tax that will provide much needed funding for our schools.

State funding to localities for education is being cut and there are increasing costs of utilities, transportation, the operation of three new schools, etc. This is placing unprecedented financial demands on the local school system that this revenue source will greatly alleviate.

Estimates indicate that this 4 percent maximum tax will provide $600,000, much of it paid by tourists who vacation at Massanutten.

No one likes to pay taxes and some are opposed to taxes on principle. However, a vote against this meals tax as a protest against taxation, in general, and federal taxes, in particular, will do nothing to affect federal taxes that we all have to pay.

But, a vote against this meals tax will hurt our local school system’s ability to meet the needs of children in our area and will make an increase in real estate taxes more likely.