Most cities and towns in Mass. move slow on taxes

BOSTON -- Only a handful of cities and towns have moved so far to take advantage of new local-option taxes.

The state budget allows communities to tack an additional .75 percent tax on the state's 6.25 percent tax on restaurant meals. They can also increase the local tax on hotel and motel rooms from 4 percent to 6 percent.

Cities and towns have until Monday to accept the local-option taxes, which would take effect in those communities on Oct. 1. As of Friday, the state Department of Revenue reported that 23 of the state's 351 cities and towns had adopted the meals tax and only a few more had accepted the hotel tax increase.

Worcester and Springfield were among the communities taking the option.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)