| 'Yes'
Vote Gives Us $5B in Funds |
|
To the editor:
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| I write today to urge support on Nov. 5 for a critical proposal
for the future of our region: the referendum to increase the
sales tax in Northern Virginia by one-half0 cent. |
| Many who remember my years in the Town of Herndon may similarly
recall my reputation as a fiscal conservative. My reputation
for frugality has led to many humorous stories, and town employees
may remember that I fretted constantly about the cost of the
one set of fluorescent lights that remained lit in the Town
Hall even after the light switch was turned off and the building
was empty. So why am I supporting this referendum? |
| The Commonwealth of Virginia has a relatively low tax burden
when compared with other states. It has the tenth lowest tax
burden in the nation. Even with that low tax burden, most
functions of government are funded adequately. However, transportation
and education funding levels, at least in Northern Virginia,
continue to receive woefully inadequate state funding. |
| Northern Virginia currently receives more than 40 percent
of all the state's money for transportation construction,
despite having only about 25 percent of the state's population.
Even when the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the Mixing Bowl are
finished, we still expect to receive more than 30 percent
of the state's new construction money in Northern Virginia. |
| I have argued that the money we receive is not enough. We
still sit in gridlock. I introduced legislation in the 2002
session of the General Assembly that would add a "congestion
factor" to the state's funding formula, which would primarily
benefit Northern Virginia and congested areas in Hampton Roads.
The change in the VDOT funding formula, if it passes the legislature,
would give Northern Virginia about $50 million. That amount,
while significant, is still not enough to make a dent in our
transportation problems. |
| The most important reason for supporting the referendum
is because, for an average cost of 13 cents a day, it will
give us nearly $5 billion of transportation funding that is
not run through VDOT's allocation formula and that must be
spent on transportation problems affecting the region. |
| Dollars raised through the referendum will be given to the
Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), which is
comprised of officials from Northern Virginia only. |
| This means that unlike any other sales tax dollars that
are raised in Northern Virginia, 100 percent of the money
raised in Northern Virginia will stay in Northern Virginia.
None of that money will go to Richmond. By voting for the
referendum, you will also be voting to give more control over
our money to our residents. This additional money will not
affect the state money already given to the region. |
| Many opponents claim that it is only developers
and development interests that are supporting the referendum.
That is not the case. The referendum has been endorsed by,
among others, the Fairfax County Council of PTAs, the Fairfax
County Federation of Teachers, the Fairfax Federation of Civic
Associations, the McLean Citizens Association, the Northern
Virginia Central Labor Council, the Virginia Education Association,
the Virginia Sheriffs' Association and the Virginia Professional
Fire Fighters and the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.
|
| These are real people who are the backbone of our community. |
| Northern Virginia needs the money that will come from the
referendum. The $1 billion in money coming from this proposal
cannot be "found" through any other mechanism or through redistributing
our state priorities. I will vote "yes," and I encourage you
to vote "yes" for our future. |
| Thomas Davis Rust |
| Delegate, 86th District |
| Former Mayor, Herndon |
