VA: Fairfax hungry for more revenue (Democrats want more taxes, fees) (Party of Taxes™ alert)

The Washington Post ^ | 2009-11-28 | Fredrick Kunkle

[rabscuttle385]

(snip)

"I think it's time for us to start looking at this seriously," said Supervisor Gerald W. Hyland (D-Mount Vernon), who has been lobbying behind the scenes for the tax since the board's retreat this past summer. He said a meals tax would bring in about as much as a property tax increase of 5 cents per $100 of assessed value and would be spread over a larger group of people.

"The best thing to say to a room full of people is that even though we're in a tough time and a recession, you still go out to eat," Hyland said. "It's discretionary."

County leaders have tried that strategy before -- and failed. In 1992, a proposed meals tax was put to voters in a referendum and failed by 58 to 42 percent. In 2004, county leaders asked the General Assembly to exempt Fairfax County from having to hold a referendum on a meals tax. The Senate approved, but the House did not.

Hyland said the budget picture is so grim that voters might be more willing than in the past to support a meals tax. He also said there appears to be enough support on the 10-member board to pass a resolution setting up a referendum, particularly if the chairman, Sharon Bulova (D) lends her weight to the idea. In separate interviews, supervisors Penelope A. Gross (D-Mason), Catherine M. Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill), Jeff C. McKay (D-Lee) and Linda Q. Smyth (D-Providence) expressed tentative backing for the idea.

(snip)

[Truth29]

Not only can people choose to eat out less, they can also go across the county line where it is reasonably convenient and eat in a lower tax county.

[EDINVA]

Right now the restaurant meal tax in Fairfax is 4%. They are looking to increase it. I don’t know where the tax is 9-10%.

Obviousy, they could start with looking at expenditures. But if they are going to raise taxes, the alternatives create a burden that would once again fall on homeowners or car owners.

There are more homeowners in Fairfax than restaurant workers. And they would welcome you to keep your sorry arse in NJ.

[goldstategop]

People can eat at home.There goes Gerald W. Hyland's meal tax. If no one's eating out, how much will the government collect on meals? Good question.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[goldstategop]

Government can never do with less. Sorry if you have to scrounge around for change. We need even that to stay afloat - recession or no recession.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[RochesterFan]

You are absolutely right. These fools don’t understand the unintended consequences of these actions. They will put many restaurants out of business and the staff out of work. The fools don’t see the obvious solution: reduce government spending.

[K-oneTexas]

Democrats = The Party of Taxes!

Republicans (RINO’s) = The Party of Democrat A*s Kissers or Party of Democrat Wanna-bes!

[silverleaf]

well well, the restaurants in Fairfax County must not have seen any drop in business, with only 10% unemployment and climbing

sarc

This shows how out-of-touch these arrogant axxhats are
No doubt his per diem pays for many a restaurant meal

[TLI]

How about a tax just on Fairfax County Board Supervisors?

Hey, nobody made the run for the office, "It's discretionary."

.

[Salgak]

Better still, leave a card and no tip:

“Thanks to the meal tax, that WAS your tip. And here’s another: you might want to vote out the idiots who decided they needed your tip more than you do. . .”

[EDINVA]

ah, the stereotypical genteel Joiseyite !!!!

[dalebert]

ya feed the dems

[PistolPaknMama]

I’ll bite. What the crapp is a meals tax? Last time I was in Fairfax, VA, I drove through a Burger King and could barely understand the person taking my order. I asked for somene who spoke English. I assume they charged her a tax for not being able to place my order for my meal...yes? Maybe they charged me more for not being able to understand not-English-exactly.

[ml/nj]

You know what, PAL? You sound like the typical DC Govt "worker" suburbanite. You really don't belong here on FR if you think the solution to your problems is to tax people visiting your state on business or other reasons who have absolutely no say in how profligate your government is.

ML/NJ

[ml/nj]

My guess is that EDINVA won't like you either!

ML/NJ

[tanknetter]

These idiots really need to start paying closer attention to what’s happening outside the Board of Supervisors Board Room (with it’s $$$$$$ handcrafted Italian marble meeting table).

Local restaurants in NoVA are seriously hurting. We have a local Italian place in a shopping center near our house and every time I’m over there I’m amazed with how few people are there eating compared to 2-3 years ago.

The first-tier family restaurants in the area are still doing well. We had family in town this past weekend and decided to go out a few times. Tried to get a call-ahead at Sweetwater, Coast Flats and Jackson’s on the various nights and was told there were 2-hour weights. Dropped down to some of the alternatives and was told that there were plenty of spaces and no weight. Have never seen that before.

Also haven’t seen the number of places in the area that are now accepting reservations. Like Texas de Brazil at Fair Oaks. Before they had enough of a crowd waiting that they didn’t have to worry - their business model was to roll people through and holding tables (as opposed to call-aheads) didn’t fit the model.

On top of that, there have been a LOT less people at the various movie theaters recently. Fairfax is pretty wealthy and because of its reliance on the Federal Government supposedly “recession proof”. We still have pretty low (relative to rest of the country) unemployment, etc ... so this cutting back is more people being worried about the future and not spending money. As opposed to not having the money to spend.

This, if pushed through, is going to have cascading impact that’s really going to screw with small, family-run businesses (ie restaurants). They’ll be the first to go, because the chains have more staying power. Damn shame, but then I recall the worker at my local Italian place who was wearing an Obama button last Fall (which was reason why that was the last time I ate there), and I don’t feel all that bad.

[tanknetter]

These fools don’t understand the unintended consequences of these actions.

The technical term is "killing the goose that laid the golden egg". Fairfax has had, very much, a "dining out" culture. That's being impacted by the recession, but even at a reduced rate it's still pouring a lot of money into the County's treasury through existing taxes and fees. If this goes through I plan to starve the beast and go absolutely cold turkey on sit-down dining. That's about 400-500 bucks a month being pulled out of the local economy for what? A tax that would would raise all of $10-20? I don't see how the County can assume that enough people would choose to go out to a restaurant, if they were planning on doing otherwise, to make up the additional $480 (top-end) lost revenue.

[Salgak]

You mean, fall on the local citizens who USE the services, but want someone else to PAY for those services ?

I seem to remember that there was a time when “No Taxation without Representation” was a popular idea in Virginia.

You might want to move over to D.U., you’re already thinking their way.

And yes, they could, and SHOULD look at expenditures, first.
Like the rest of us have to. . .

[rabscuttle385]

Not only can people choose to eat out less, they can also go across the county line where it is reasonably convenient and eat in a lower tax county.

Or just don't eat out at all.

The sales tax on groceries is 2.5 percent.

[rabscuttle385]

Currently in Loudoun the schools get about 70% of the budget and we are up for a big battle the first of the year.

Oh, I know.

We have to pay both county and town (Leesburg) property taxes on our cars, and the decal fees are--well, you know, obvious profit centers for the local government.

And there's already a meals tax here in town, on top of the general sales tax.