Aquatics center and the meals tax

Vienna raised its meals tax from 3% to 4% effective January 1, 2026, largely to fund a proposed indoor pool and fitness center on the former Faith Baptist Church property at 301 Center Street South. The project drew organized opposition over cost and scale — a $28 million price tag for what critics call a small pool, plus projected annual operating losses over $1 million. On July 6 the council voted 5-2 to pause both the project and any decision on rolling back the tax. Mayor Colbert, Baldwin, and Ramakis signaled support for lowering the rate; others wanted data on restaurant impact first. There's an organized opposition site at viennapool.org, and Navy Federal contributed $3 million in November 2025.