Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Senate voted 25-15 for House Bill 2313, which will raise about $8809 million a year more for roads and mass transit.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, February 24
By Stephen Nielsen, Capital News Service A divided Virginia Senate on Saturday passed Gov. Bob McDonnell’s signature issue of the 2013 legislative session – a bill to overhaul the state’s system for funding transportation. Just hours before the session’s end, the Senate voted 25-15 for House Bill 2313, which will raise about $880 million a year more for roads and mass transit by increasing sales taxes while lowering the fuels tax. The debate over how to increase revenue continued right up to the vote. Lee District senators George Barker, Linda Puller and Richard Saslaw supported the legislation; Sen. Adam Ebbin voted against it. “This isn’t any bill. This is the only bill,” said Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment, R-Williamsburg. He …
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell tours state Thursday asking for support, says plan could jumpstart several projects in Northern Virginia.
Gov. Bob McDonnell spent Thursday traveling across the state to urge area business leaders and residents to support his “Virginia’s Road to the Future” transportation plan, saying his proposal could help jumpstart a number of projects in Northern Virginia that have seemed to stall. The plan has gotten mixed reviews from some state legislators so far this session, but a new poll from Christopher Newport University showed 63 percent of Virginia voters support McDonnell's plan, which hinges on doing away with the state’s 17.5 cents per gallon gas tax and increasing the state sales tax from 5 percent to 5.8 percent. In the past, Supervisor Jeff McKay has said that a "one size fits all" transportation plan does not work for Virginia. "While …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Virginia governor's proposed $3.1 billion transportation overhaul gives higher percentage of sales tax to projects, leaves tax on diesel in tact.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, January 9
By Mark Robinson, Capital News Service RICHMOND – With the General Assembly set to convene, Gov. Bob McDonnell proposed Tuesday increasing Virginia’s sales tax and abolishing its nearly 27-year-old gas tax, making Virginia the first state in the country to do so. The measures are a part of the governor’s proposed $3.1 billion plan to fund improvements to Virginia’s transportation system over the next five years. The funds would supplement $14 billion of transportation projects already under way in the commonwealth, the most in Virginia’s history. “Declining funds for infrastructure maintenance, stagnant motor fuels tax revenues, increased demand for transit and passenger rail and the growing cost of major infrastructure projects …
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Fairfax County is asking residents to weigh in with a survey.
Fairfax County faces an estimated $3 billion gap in transportation funding over the next decade, and officials are now seeking ways to raise funds. From now until fiscal year 2021, the county has $8.1 billion in needs but anticipates only $5.1 billion in revenues, Fairfax County Department of Transportation Director Tom Biesiadny said. Funding from the state or federal governments is unlikely to come through. Fairfax County is asking residents to complete a survey so officials can learn how to fund these transportation improvements. There are 20 options to fund transportation improvements, including the following: Residents have until 4:30 p.m. Oct. 12 to complete the survey. To take the survey, click here. Patch wants to know: How would …
Laura
10:01 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
the plan to increase sales tax to make up for dropping the gas tax is regressive. People still have to buy food & clothing, and our lower-income families are going to be hit harder. Let the people who use the roads pay for the roads - that is what the gas tax does. more ›