Kaine will resubmit plan to raise vehicle taxes, fees

Washington Times ^ | 1-5-07 | Larry O'Dell

[JZelle]

RICHMOND -- Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said yesterday that the public's response to legislative gridlock on transportation improvements prompted him to renew his proposals to increase vehicle registration fees and the sales tax on new cars. Anti-tax Republicans, who control the House of Delegates, rejected the proposals during the extended session last year. Mr. Kaine, a Democrat, will ask lawmakers to reconsider during the 46-day election-year session that begins Wednesday.

[JZelle]

"You'd be raising the cost of buying a car by an average of about $500," he said. "For the average citizen, $500 is a lot of money, and you'd have to come up with that at the point of sale."

Go get 'em Timmy!!

[Gay State Conservative]

If a "fee" is mandatory and payable to any government entity it's a tax.

Period.

[iceskater]

Richmond ping.

More on the transportation tax increase Timmy wants.

[lazypadawan]

I lived in the Old Dominion for 14 years; the scary thing is I pay less in "registration fees" and taxes on my car now in California than I did when I lived in Virginia.

[RexBeach]

In Virginia, aren't we running a pretty good budget surplus?

[MSF BU]

My solution to that is to drive an older vehicle. I'm still squeezing miles out of my Isuzu pickup and it costs little insurance and even less property tax.

[BigBobber]

Has this guy heard of Gray Davis?

[iceskater]

Good grief. I can't believe that California taxes less than Virginia for cars. I'm living in the Twilight Zone.

[iceskater]

Yes, $1.5 Billion.

Coincidentally, the amount of tax increase that M.Warner pushed through the General Assembly.

[P8riot]

My solution to that is to drive an older vehicle.

Me too. I just recently picked up a 19yr old F-150 4WD with less than 94K miles on it. When I went to the county to pay my property tax on it they told me that it was tax exempt due to the age. Nevermind that the vehicle looks and operates like new. Not bad for a $1500.00 investment, eh?

[DM1]

VA elected a Democrat - why is there shock that he wants to raise taxes

[P8riot]

On the surface it may look like it, however there is an 7.25% statewide sales tax, and localities add additional sales taxes. This pushes the sales tax up to around 8% on a vehicle in California. So for that $50,000.00 Beemer you've been driving around Richmond you'd pay $4,000.00 in sales and use tax, up front.

By comparison Virginia's sales tax is a bargain, at least for now. The property tax adds a bunch to it as well, but it still doesn't add up to the up front costs of buying a car in California. It's not the bargain Californians think they are getting. The main difference is that Californians pay it when they buy and we pay over time.

Besides that, try buying a house in California for the median price of a home here in Richmond, and you'll end up with a two bedroom condo, and not a very nice one at that.

[iceskater]

OK. I feel a little better now.

I was hearing that Rod Serling voice and I was getting scared! :)

Regardless, taxes are too high and government spends too much.

[Gabz]

Regardless, taxes are too high and government spends too much.

And that, m'dear, is the bottom line :)

[AbeKrieger]

Congratulations, Virginia !!!! Now YOU TOO can be like New Jersey.

[MSF BU]

No it isn't. I noticed that when I was station down south; there were a lot of pickup trucks that were old but in good shape. Where I am the road salt and sea salt waste them away.

[P8riot]

On top of that it's an XLT Lariat with all the bells & whistles. I almost bought one just like it when I was in the Navy 20 yrs ago. The only bad thing about it is that it only gets 12 to 15MPG. If it were a diesel it'd be perfect.

[R. Scott]

I hope the Republicans can hold firm. I want to upgrade my car next year - but if the sale tax jumps there’s no way.

[Phosgood]

We still need to get rid of the (R) turncoats that got us into this in the first place.
They whore for the (d)s in raising taxes for Warner, defeating Gov Kilgor's plan for eliminating PP tax on autos
then we turn around and see them running around with little Republican flags in their grubby paws.

FORGET HELL

[Corin Stormhands]

Maybe you don't want to forget, but you should at least remember that the car tax scheme was Governor Gilmore. Kilgore never made it to the Executive Mansion.