RICHMOND
Government leaders in Northern Virginia are objecting to a transportation bill up for a vote in the House of Delegates today, casting new doubts on the General Assembly's ability to find new money this summer for transportation projects.
The House also is slated to vote on a $1.8 billion package of tax increases approved by the Senate that includes a 6-cent gas tax increase.
Northern Virginia's leaders have charged that the House's proposed legislation provides inadequate funding for their region and unfairly requires Northern Virginia localities to raise taxes, while allowing Hampton Roads to draw money from future state revenues.
"From our point of view, it is gratuitously insulting," said Gerald Connolly, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chairman. The objections were noted in a letter Monday endorsed by elected leaders from eight Northern Virginia localities.
House Republicans swiftly condemned the letter Tuesday and accused Gov. Timothy M. Kaine of orchestrating it. "It appears that the Democratic leadership is more interested in holding Northern Virginia's and Hampton Roads's transportation needs hostage for higher statewide taxes," Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News, said in a statement.
Kaine spokeswoman Delacey Skinner said it is "absurd" to blame the governor for others' opposition to the bill. Hamilton is the sponsor of the legislation, HB6055.
The bill would allow Hampton Roads local governments to raise about $50 million a year by imposing additional $20 fees on vehicle registration and inspections, and a 2 percent tax on car rentals.
It also would allow the region to capture up to $250 million a year in future tax revenues that might come from a growth in business at the Hampton Roads port if roads are improved. Taxes generated by the ports are now distributed across the state for services such as education, health and public safety.
Hamilton's bill would require Northern Virginia local governments to impose a variety of taxes and fees that would generate about $363 million annually.
Kaine and his supporters have said regional plans alone will not solve the state's transportation funding crisis.
The local official's letter came after a June 27 conference call involving local elected officials from Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, Kaine and state Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer.
Hampton Roads government officials did not reach a consensus among themselves after the call.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
Warren Fiske, (804) 697-1565, warren.fiske@pilotonline.com
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every day
Every day they sit inb session doing nothing the traffic gets worst, and the price gets higher. No matter what happens there will be a zillion complaints.
No Regional Tax Rates, no unrelated tax increases
Sales taxes generated by tourists using our roads get distributed across the state, and this article confirms that "taxes generated by the ports are now distributed across the state for services such as education, health and public safety." Of course, the ports need/want road expansion projects to support increased business. I don't like it, but I am willing to pay an extra $10 to register/inspect my car each year if everyone in the state has the same increase. I can also support a statewide 6 cent increase in the gas tax. I am sure some with a bigger financial stake in the matter than me (Mr. Barrett?) will disagree with me, but I am 100% opposed to increased regional taxes for roads projects that ultimately benefit the whole state.
More of the same from Kaine
The sky is falling chicken little!! The real crisis is trying to pry the $$'s from my wallet before the real crisis starts. The real crisis is $7 to $8 per gallon of gas. That's when the real crisis will happen & the roads will clear up faster than they can reject this bogus legislation. People are going to have to reevaluate their lifestyles, where they live versus where they work. Big changes are coming & the pols want my $$'s before the transportation situation improves. It will improve due to the lack of people being able to afford gas. Big changes are coming but they want my tax $$'s before the sky really does fall. Can you say carpooling, ride shareing,electric scooters, mopeds, electric buggies? I'm seeing them everywhere & I'm glad to see it. People growing more & more of their food. Greenhouses, gardens, hydroponics, they're all coming in big #'s. People are already getting ready for the