More General Assembly newsRICHMOND
Two Hampton Roads delegates plan to unveil tax proposals today that they say would raise $1.75 billion to help meet a budget shortfall without cutting so deeply into public services.
Del. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk, said he and Del. Kenneth Melvin, D-Portsmouth, plan to introduce bills that would:
- Raise $1 billion annually for transportation projects by adding 18 cents to the gas tax.
- Raise a projected $750 million by increasing the state income tax on people who earn more than $300,000 to 6.5 percent - an increase from the current 5.75 percent rate.
The bills will likely be dismissed in the Republican-controlled House, where the leadership has opposed tax increases to fund transportation.
Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said he had no problem with the proposals but referred to them as "Don Quixote" -like in this General Assembly.
"It ain't going to happen," Saslaw said. "I proposed a penny-a-gallon for five years, and it went nowhere."
Alexander hopes to build support from the Legislative Black Caucus, which could discuss the ideas today at a scheduled news conference. A consensus of the members at a caucus meeting Thursday was an endorsement of the proposals, Alexander said. Several members were away at other committee meetings.
"The caucus is trying to find solutions," Alexander said.
The state is facing a $2.9 billion revenue shortfall in next year's budget.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has proposed cuts in funding for public education, colleges and health care to balance the budget.
Dave Forster, (757) 477-6386, dave.forster@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
...continued
Whether it be Light Rail, a Third Crossing, a new Jordan Bridge, a Midtown tunnel expansion, or hopefully all of the above. We need to be able to fund these projects. The alternative, which we are now realizing, is an economic truth…we will begin to see private infrastructure be built with the direct intention of turning a profit from our inability to appropriate funds. We will be forced to pay a toll if we need to travel over a bridge or through a tunnel. Although this is a pretty good “plan B”, “plan A” would involve no tolls at all and our economic future could thrive inhibited. But this comes now with a strong gas tax, which only get stronger as we continue to neglect to the growing need.
MPO with no taxing authority
What we have is an MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) with no taxable authority to implement any of their own recommendations. So unlike well functioning cities like Portland, whose MPO has the ability to appropriate projects via a regional gas tax or toll control...instead we have two separate hands trying to deliver goods but from two separate bodies. Because Virginia is what's known as a "Dillon-rule state," of which only 6 states remain, Norfolk or the region are unable to implement specific taxes which apply only to the region. So we must allocate money from each municipality’s general fund and then beg Richmond for state funds, oh yeah and the feds too. But where in the general fund do we specifically take the money, b/c every amount we take will come with an opportunity cost, i.e. taking money from schools. The 18 cent/gallon increase would of course be met with initial complaints, but in comparison to neighboring states our gas tax is relatively low. But most importantly city drivers demand more out of the road the rural counterparts. The future of the local economy is dependent on our areas transportation infrastructure. Whether it be Light Rail, a Third Crossing
These bills are not worth
These bills are not worth the ink that was used to file them. Any of you who feel you aren't paying enough in taxes especially during this recession, feel free to stroke a check to Gov. Kaine.
Kill the bill
Howell's orders: kill the bills
Time to recall Howell? YES Complain about a tax increase? You have no right to complain about congestion!
Guts and Courage
Of course, proposals like an increase in the gas tax, if adopted a decade ago, would have built all the regional projects and would have prevented the decay and deterioration of the interstate highway system. Regretfully, the amounts proposed are not enough to make up for a decade of neglect. And of course, even this modest proposal is dead on arrival in a House of Delegates controlled by the anti tax republicans, delegates who have taken a pledge not to raise taxes and to have us, their constituients suffer the consequences, and who have earned the legacy of deplorable highways, unsafe and closed bridges, and an enormous fiscal backlog of projects that should have been started a decade ago. I applaud their gut and courage and hope they can earn sufficient support for at least a full airing of the crisis we face in transportation, which includes the potential lack of funds to match the potential federal program.
I support the tax!!!!
Anyone who dares to complain about this tax has no right to complain about traffic congestion. Period.