BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR John Tobin thinks local diners would appreciate their restaurant meals even more if a portion of the state's 5 percent meals tax were supporting schools and public safety in their communities, instead of being gobbled up by the state. The idea is catching on among some candidates for statewide office who are hearing loud complaints on the campaign trail about sharp increases in local property taxes.

Tobin wants to steer 1 percent of the state meals tax to cities and towns where the meal is consumed, leaving 4 percent for the state. Unlike a local-option meals tax, which would increase the tax by an agreed-upon percentage, Tobin's proposal would cost the diner nothing extra. And his idea doesn't incite the restaurant lobby, which argues that local-option taxes discourage dining and unfairly single out the food and beverage industry.

Gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick says he finds the idea intriguing because it would relieve cities and towns of the need to rely so heavily on regressive property taxes. Worcester Mayor Tim Murray, a candidate for lieutenant governor, endorses the concept. Worcester would gain about $1.5 million annually if the proposal became law, according to 2000 data supplied by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. State aid to cities and towns has dropped significantly as a percentage of overall municipal revenues since the late 1980s. The meals tax money could be used to improve local services.