Posted on 07/03/2007 6:21:26 AM PDT by Gopher Broke
An unelected body, the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, (NVTA) is set to implement completely unprecedented and controversial taxing powers for road projects, two thirds of which will not be identified until late November or early December.
The NVTA wants more taxing power from the General Assembly in 2008, eminent domain authority to take homes, businesses, and land, and power to relocate utilities.
Proposed Taxes and Fee Increases:
- Tax on home sales will increase an additional 40 cents per $100 bringing the total state and local grantor/recordation taxes to 86.66 cents per $100, up from 46.66 cents per $100 ($3,467 instead of $1865 on a $400,000 home),
- New 5% car repair tax ($50 on a $1,000 repair bill). Collision repair costs will be hit especially hard as will insurance costs.
- Car rental tax will increase addition 2%, from 10% to 12 %
- Hotel tax will increase 2% on top of current 2%-5% tax
- Vehicle safety inspection fee will increase from $15 to $25
- New regional annual vehicle registration fee of $10 added to current registration fee.
- New, first time registration fee of 1% of sales price of newly registered or purchased car (new or used) ($200 for $20,000 vehicle)
The NVTA is authorized to negotiate unsolicited, non-competitive, sole-source contracts with their usual cost overruns.
The General Assembly increased road and rail funding from $6.2 billion a few years ago to $9.4 billion in the current budget. Last year we authorized local governments to construct inter-jurisdictional toll roads. This year we authorized the use of interstate tolls.
A formal legal opinion was previously requested from, but not issued, by the Attorney General on this law, HB3202. Since a lawsuit was filed, no opinion can now be issued. (Questions about constitutionality? Write delegatebobmarshall@hotmail.com)
If six appointed members from nine jurisdictions vote yes to taxes in July 12, all jurisdictions must impose and collect them. Please email, write, call, fax the NVTA representative below from your jurisdiction, and the others if possible. You can also attend and testify at the public hearing July 12, 7:00 pm @ Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, 7130 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA. Thank you!
The Honorable Christopher Zimmerman Chairman, NVTA, Arlington Co. BOS, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Ste. 300, Arlington, VA 22201, Fax: (703) 228-7430, czimmerman@arlingtonva.us
The Honorable Marty Nohe Vice-Chairman, NVTA, Prince William Co. BOS, 4360 Ridgewood Center Dr. Prince William, VA 22192, Fax: (703) 792-4610, mnohe@pwcgov.org
The Honorable Gerry Connolly Fairfax County BOS, NVTA, 12000 Government Center Pkwy, Ste. 530, Fairfax, VA 22035, Fax: (703) 324-3955, chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov
The Honorable William Euille City of Alexandria, NVTA, 301 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314, Fax: (703) 838-6433, alexvamayor@aol.com
The Honorable Robert Lederer City of Fairfax, NVTA, 10455 Armstrong St., Fairfax, VA 22030, Fax: (703) 385-7811, rlederer@fairfaxva.gov
The Honorable Hal Parrish City of Manassas, NVTA, 9027 Center St., Manassas, VA 20110, Fax: (703) 365-2060, hparrish@ci.manassas.va.us
The Honorable Bryan Polk City of Manassas Park, NVTA, City Hall, One Park Center Ct., Manassas Park, VA 20111, Fax: (703) 335-0053, bpolk@cityofmanassaspark.us
The Honorable David Snyder City of Falls Church, NVTA, Harry Wells Bld., 300 Park Ave, 3rd Floor, East Wing, Falls Church, VA 22046, Fax: (703) 248-5146, dsnyder@fallschurchva.gov
The Honorable Scott York Loudoun County BOS, NVTA, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177, Fax: (703) 777-0421, syork@loudoun.gov
I believe that is the ticket for speeding, not DUI.
bttt
Time to e-mail and call
Dang, looks like cheaper motels for us next year. What’s the tax on a pack of smokes?
The same thing has happened in in Hampton Roads. They couldn’t pass a tax hike, so these were formed as a way to raise “fees”.
“That’s a garden variety speeding ticket, not a DUI.”
Wrong. The biggest speeding ticket is for going more than 20 mph (reckless driving) over the speed limit, not for “garden-variety speeding.” The new fine for reckless driving is $1,050. If you’re driving 20 mph over the limit you are a menace. No question.
I don’t personally agree with these fines that affect just in-state drivers. I know many here will disagree, but I think we should raise the gas tax, which I see as more of a user fee than a tax. If you drive a lot, you pay more for the roads you use. And folks from out of state also pay for the pavement they are wearing out. It just makes sense.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.