MORE TAXES! The details of the plan are in this Washington Post article.
Please contact your state Delegate and Senator to voice your concerns. You can find out who your state representatives are using the GA’s Who’s My Legislator page.
Below is the letter I sent to Del. Mark Sickles and state Sen. Toddy Puller regarding the proposal:
Sen. Puller and Del. Sickles,
First, I would like to thank both of you for your support on the
“abuser fees” issue and commend you for your work in getting the fees
repealed.I am contacting you today about several concerns I have regarding Gov.
Kaine’s new transportation funding bill.For starters, I’d like to know what measures- if any- were taken to
use existing funds more efficiently and/or cut waste before new taxes
are proposed. The state government should ensure that it is using the
people’s money as responsibly as possible before requesting more money
from its constituents.Second, the governor is proposing a $10 increase in the vehicle
registration fee. Any flat tax is a regressive tax and hurts lower
income Virginians first. Granted, it is only $10, but Virginians
already pay registration fees, safety inspections, emissions
inspections (in some areas), decal fees (in most areas) and the
infamous personal property tax, owning a vehicle in VA is already very
expensive. Public transportation is insufficient in most of the
state, so owning a car is a necessity for most people and the
government already capitalizes off that fact more than it should.Third, the governor is proposing a regional 1% sales tax increase in
Hampton Roads and Northern VA. Gas prices are increasing. Food prices
are increasing. Energy prices are likely to increase in the near
future- everything costs more and incomes are not keeping pace.
Adding to the sales tax will only serve to make everything (except
food) that much more expensive. It is equitable in the sense that it
is a tax on consumption- those who consume more will pay more.
However that does not make it any more affordable for middle and lower
income Virginians.Finally, the government is proposing a 25 cent increase in the
grantors’ tax. This is an improvement over the 40 cent increase in
the disastrous HB3202. However, anything that increases the cost of
real estate transactions during a credit crunch and a period of
decreasing home values is simply bad public policy.One way to make up some of the revenue is a gas tax. I realize this is
politically unpopular with gas prices already being so high, but it is
as close to a user fee as we can get on this issue. Those who buy more
gas in VA use the roads more, and hence should pay a larger share of
road construction.As my representatives to the General Assembly, I trust that you will
take these concerns to the Special Session. Thank you for your time.
