Del. John Welch wanted to give Virginia Beach citizens the power over whether to raise the city’Äôs meal tax in the future. ¬ÝVirginia Beach City Council wanted the issue studied by a special Meals Tax Task Force. ¬ÝWelch agreed. The task force supported requiring referendums for future tax increases. ¬ÝThe council reneged on the deal and refused to include the recommendation in its legislative package. This is Welch’Äôs response during a presentation before the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance September 23, 2006.