Plan to use taxes, fees to build roads moves closer to approval

Manassas (Map, News) - Long-awaited transportation funding for Northern Virginia appears poised to win approval from a key regional authority after the Manassas City Council gave its support Monday night to a tax and fee package that could raise as much as $400 million annually.

A law that took effect July 1 gave the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, composed of representatives of four counties and five cities, the power to implement higher taxes and fees. The new money would support road construction, mass transit services, bicycle trails and pedestrian paths in the traffic-clogged region. The authority will meet Thursday to vote on the revenue plan.

The law requires, however, that six jurisdictions representing at least two-thirds of the region’s 2 million residents approve the tax and fee package.

On Monday night, Manassas became the sixth locality to support the package with four members of the council voting yes, one voting no and one abstaining.

Gerald Connolly, who represents Fairfax and 49 percent of the region’s population, is expected to support the new revenue. Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax City and Falls Church, which combined have 20.5 percent of the residents, also are behind the new money.

Several of the localities with representatives on the authority have voiced opposition or concerns about the new revenue sources, imperiling the funding. If opposition is too strong, the authority could delay its vote until later in the summer or the fall, but supporters want to move forward quickly.

“This is the only hope,” said Del. David Albo, R-Springfield, who helped write the new law. “If they shoot it down, everyone in Northern Virginia can look at them and say ‘you guys blew it.’ ”

Loudoun County supervisors voted unanimously last week to oppose the taxes. Prince William supervisors, who have voiced concern about the funding, will vote this afternoon on whether the county’s NVTA representative should support the package.

The Manassas Park City Council has not scheduled a vote. Councilman Bryan Polk, who represents the city on NVTA, did not return a phone message seeking comment.

Taxes and fees

List of the taxes and fees the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority may impose to raise $400 million a year for regional road, mass transit and pedestrian projects:

» 5 percent tax on vehicle repairs

» 2 percent tax on rental cars

» 2 percent tax on hotel and motel rooms

» 1 percent tax on first-time vehicle registrations

» A tax of 40 cents per $100 of assessed value on property sales

» $10 added to the cost of vehicle safety inspections and registrations

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com

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