Posts with the tag Taxes. http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tag/taxes/ en-us http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18815/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ncasey/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Nick Casey</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Arlington and Alexandria are <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/13/05/08/property_tax_hikes_hit_across_northern_virginia', '18815')" href="http://wamu.org/news/13/05/08/property_tax_hikes_hit_across_northern_virginia" style="color: black">increasing property taxes</a>; Alexandria's will allow the city to fund Capital Bikeshare and libraries. (WAMU) ... David Catania's truancy bill <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/13/05/07/dc_council_gives_preliminary_approval_to_truancy_bill', '18815')" href="http://wamu.org/news/13/05/07/dc_council_gives_preliminary_approval_to_truancy_bill" style="color: black">received preliminary approval</a>, without the part about imprisoning parents. (WAMU) ... Retail at Dulles and National airports <A href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2013/05/food-retail-offerings-to-get-makeover.html" style="color: black">could get a lot better</a> soon. (WBJ)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/18815/and/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=18815 Wed, 08 May 2013 08:50:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17875/transportation-bill-constitutional/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Under the Virginia Constitution, all taxes levied must be equal in all areas, so could that mean the recently passed Virginia transportation <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/vas-transportation-bill-is-unconstitutional/2013/02/25/3d73abee-7f88-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html', '17875')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/vas-transportation-bill-is-unconstitutional/2013/02/25/3d73abee-7f88-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html" style="color: black">bill is unconstitutional?</a> (Post, caps fan, JimT)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17875/transportation-bill-constitutional/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17806/follow-the-money-in-virginias-transportation-bill/ style="color: black">Follow the money in Virginia's transportation bill</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 25, 2013)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1681/its-crossover-day-in-the-virginia-legislature/ style="color: black">It's "Crossover Day" in the Virginia legislature</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 10, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9167/is-there-a-tea-party-urbanism/ style="color: black">Is there a tea party urbanism?</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 9, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8937/moran-criticizes-mcdonnell-transportation-plan/ style="color: black">Moran criticizes McDonnell transportation plan</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 22, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9004/anti-livability-bill-passes-virginia-house-committee/ style="color: black">Anti-livability bill passes Virginia House committee</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 27, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17875 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:21:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17831/car-taxes-oddly-rise/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2013/02/dc-vehicle-taxes-surge-in-january-a.html', '17831')" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2013/02/dc-vehicle-taxes-surge-in-january-a.html" style="color: black">collected a lot of vehicle taxes</a> in January. Did people buy a lot of cars, or was DMV just catching up on late paperwork? Nobody really knows. (WBJ)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17831/car-taxes-oddly-rise/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9364/taxes-lowest-for-dc-residents-and-car-free-virginians/ style="color: black">Taxes lowest for DC residents and car-free Virginians</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 22, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1995/equalize-online-and-offline-sales-taxes/ style="color: black">Equalize online and offline sales taxes</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 8, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17831 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:27:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17832/get-rid-of-the-hybrid-tax/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) and Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/no-va-lawmakers-take-aim-at-hybrid-fee-increase-in-transportation-bill/2013/02/25/5fa21a2a-7f79-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html', '17832')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/no-va-lawmakers-take-aim-at-hybrid-fee-increase-in-transportation-bill/2013/02/25/5fa21a2a-7f79-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html" style="color: black">created an online petition</a> to ask Governor McDonnell to line-item veto the $100 hybrid fee in the transportation bill. Dave Albo (R-Prince William) wants to keep it. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17832/get-rid-of-the-hybrid-tax/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17806/follow-the-money-in-virginias-transportation-bill/ style="color: black">Follow the money in Virginia's transportation bill</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 25, 2013)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9363/virginia-senate-kills-bad-anti-livability-wmata-board-bills/ style="color: black">Virginia Senate kills bad anti-livability, WMATA board bills</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 22, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14285/my-way-or-the-highway-bill-awaits-va-governors-decision/ style="color: black">"My way or the highway" bill awaits VA governor's decision</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 4, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9021/good-environmental-bills-die-bad-transportation-bills-wounded-in-virginia-house/ style="color: black">Good environmental bills die, bad transportation bills wounded in Virginia House</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 31, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8908/virginians-ask-your-reps-to-oppose-bad-highway-bills/ style="color: black">Virginians: Ask your reps to oppose bad highway bills</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 20, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17832 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:27:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17806/follow-the-money-in-virginias-transportation-bill/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/sschwartz/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Stewart Schwartz</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Virginia's complex transportation funding bill, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+ful+HB2313H4', '17806')" href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+ful+HB2313H4" style="color: black">HB2313</a>, is headed to Governor McDonnell for his signature and potential amendments. The bill is a prime example of political sausage, seeking to satisfy Republican and Democrat, urban and rural, transit and road constituencies. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/4946261855/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/4946261855/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201302/242208.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by jimmywayne on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">It also represents poor public policy by undermining the "user pays" principle, failing to reform VDOT spending, allocating far too little to transit in an urbanizing state, and off-loading responsibility for local roads to Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. </p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">Some political observers argue that the only way Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads could win rural legislators' support for new revenues would be to place the burden on themselves. And they have, by increasing local sales taxes, recordation fees and transient occupancy (hotel) tax, and with a higher state sales tax, which derives heavily from the two regions. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Virginia's smart growth and conservation community <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.smartergrowth.net/news-parent/press-releases/statement-on-passage-of-virginia-transportation-funding-bill-hb2313/', '17806')" href="http://www.smartergrowth.net/news-parent/press-releases/statement-on-passage-of-virginia-transportation-funding-bill-hb2313/" style="color: black">expressed concerns with the bill</a> on Saturday.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">While Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads will able to raise (tax themselves), keep, and allocate new transportation revenue, VDOT escapes responsibility for meeting the needs of the two most economically important parts of the Commonwealth. The bill frees VDOT to take more of the statewide sales tax revenues for highway construction outside the two regions.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">Now that the bill has passed, and presuming the Governor signs it, it will be incumbent upon legislators, local elected officials and the public to watch-dog how the money is spent, starting with the next update of the state's 6-year transportation plan, due in June. Setting the right priorities with the local money from and for Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads will be equally important.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Who voted for and against?</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">The <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+vot+SV0915HB2313+HB2313', '17806')" href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+vot+SV0915HB2313+HB2313" style="color: black">25 to 15 vote in the Senate</a> included 17 Democrats and 8 Republicans voting yes, and 3 Democrats and 12 Republicans voting no. Northern Virginia yes votes were Senators George Barker, Charles Colgan Sr., Barbara Favola, Mark Herring, Janett Howell, Dave Marsden, Toddy Puller and Richard Saslaw, all Democrats. No votes were Democratic Senators Adam Ebbin and Chap Peterson, and Republican Senators Richard Black and Jill Holtzman Vogel. </p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">The <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+vot+HV1245+HB2313', '17806')" href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?131+vot+HV1245+HB2313" style="color: black">60 to 40 vote in the House</a> included 25 Democrats and 35 Republicans voting yes, and 4 Democrats and 36 Republicans voting no. Northern Virginia yes votes were Democratic Delegates Robert Brink, David Bulova, Eileen Filler-Corn, Charniele Herring, Patrick Hope, Mark Keam, Kaye Kory, Robert Krupicka, Alfonso Lopez, Kenneth Plum, James Scott, Mark Sickles, Luke Torian and Vivian Watts; and Republican Delegates David Albo, Mark Dudenhefer, Thomas Greason, James LeMunyon, Joseph May, Randall Minchew, and Thomas Rust. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Northern Virginia no votes came from Democratic Delegate Scott Surovell and Republicans Richard Anderson, Barbara Comstock, Timothy Hugo, Scott Lingamfelter, Robert Marshall, Jackson Miller, and David Ramadan.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">The complete bill history can be found <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=131&amp;typ=bil&amp;val=HB2313', '17806')" href="http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=131&amp;typ=bil&amp;val=HB2313" style="color: black">here</a>.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Follow the money</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">The best source for tracking the new taxes and the funding allocations is the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.vatransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HB2313_Transportation_Conference-Report_02-21-13.pdf', '17806')" href="http://www.vatransit.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/HB2313_Transportation_Conference-Report_02-21-13.pdf" style="color: black">HB2313 Transportation Conference Report</a>, but even this requires interpretation.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">While the bill no longer eliminates all taxes on gasoline, it still reduces what road users will pay in daily operating costs. It eliminates the 17.5&cent; retail gas tax and shifts to a wholesale sales tax on gas. This reduces user fees in 2014 by nearly one-third, and by 20% in 2018 assuming the receipts increase because of a rise in gas prices. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The bill makes up for reducing gas taxes primarily by increasing the sales tax on new car purchases, charging a $100 fee on alternative fuel vehicles like hybrids, and tapping statewide sales taxes on goods and services (but not food). <p style="margin-top: 1em">Day-to-day vehicle user costs will decline, and all taxpayers will pay more even if they drive little or not at all. Meanwhile, transit fares are likely to continue to climb in the absence of adequate state support for transit maintenance and operating costs.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>VDOT is free to continue wasting money on unnecessary highway projects</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">The statewide portion of the bill is truly a highway bill: it directs $538 million (annually by 2018) to the highway maintenance accounts, but this will effectively free up an equal amount in highway construction funds, allowing the current administration to continue a pattern of funding rural highways with little traffic demand.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">Just last week, VDOT announced it would allocate another $869 million in federal Garvee bonds to Route 460 and the Coalfields Expressway, two of the most wasteful, unnecessary projects in the history of Virginia. Four questionable projects<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>Route 460 ($1.4 billion), Coalfields Expressway ($2.8 billion), Charlottesville Bypass ($240 million), and the Outer Beltway in Northern Virginia (estimated $1 billion)<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>total a potential $5.5 billion in misallocated spending. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Many expect that Secretary Connnaughton intends to divert a substantial portion of the new statewide money to the controversial and sprawl-inducing Outer Beltway, rather than to the critical commuter corridor needs of the metro regions.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">Just 21% of the statewide funds go to transit and passenger rail in 2018, although <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.vhsr.com/', '17806')" href="http://www.vhsr.com/" style="color: black">passenger rail advocates</a> are rightly pleased that $44 million in 2014 and $56 million per year by 2018 will go to current Amtrak services for which Virginia is now responsible, and for capital investment in the passenger rail network. An existing funding source supports upgrades for freight rail. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The $84 million for public transit isn't a lot of money when it must be shared among transit agencies across the state. The bill allocates a separate $300 million to Dulles Rail, but like some of the road money it's coming from the existing state sales tax at the expense of General Fund needs like education and health care.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">The bill fails to address the empty secondary and urban road capital accounts, unless the administration commits to use some of the freed-up road money in the Transportation Trust Fund for this purpose. Instead, the bill implicitly off-loads the cost of local roads to Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads through the local sales tax increases in those two regions. Shifting this responsibility allows VDOT to spend more money on rural highways.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Part of the future depends on a bill in Congress</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">Part of the bill also depends on the federal Marketplace Equity Act, a bill in Congress which would let states charge sales tax on Internet purchases. If that does not pass by January 2015, the sales tax on gas will rise another 1.7 percentage points to make up for the expected revenue from the MEA. This would bring gas taxes back to a level comparable to where they are today, if not a little higher at current per-gallon prices.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><p style="margin-top: 1em">The <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/democrats-claim-win-gop-says-not-so-fast/2013/02/23/40a9a56a-7e1c-11e2-a044-676856536b40_story.html?wprss=rss_virginia-politics', '17806')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/democrats-claim-win-gop-says-not-so-fast/2013/02/23/40a9a56a-7e1c-11e2-a044-676856536b40_story.html?wprss=rss_virginia-politics" style="color: black">Washington Post also reports</a> that Senator Janet Howell (D-Fairfax) secured another provision that would kick in if the MEA does not pass. In that case, the amount of general fund revenue directed to transportation would drop from $200 million a year to $60 million a year.</p> <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>More taxes rise in NoVa and Hampton Roads</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The bill would raise between $300 and $350 million per year in and for Northern Virginia by 2018. It does so by increasing the sales tax in northern Virginia by 0.7 percentage points on top of the statewide 0.3 point increase, for a new total of 6%. <p style="margin-top: 1em">There's also a 0.25% recordation tax on recorded deeds and a 3% transient occupancy (hotel) tax. The bill retains the existing local 2.1% tax on fuel. 70% of the funds will go to "regional" projects and 30% to local projects in the locality where the money is raised. The funds can go to roads or transit, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority will decide how to allocate the money. <p style="margin-top: 1em">For Hampton Roads, the bill would raise $219 million in 2018, using a local sales tax increase of 0.7 percentage points and a 2.1% local tax on fuel. However, the legislation directs these funds only for roads, despite the great need for transit and widespread support for light rail in the region. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Following the success of "The Tide" light rail in Norfolk, 62% of voters in Virginia Beach's referendum last November supported extending light rail to the beach. The Navy has also expressed its strong support for extending light rail to Norfolk Naval Station. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In a final example of VDOT off-loading costs onto the two metro regions, the bill failed to allocate state funds to Hampton Roads' Midtown/Downtown Tunnel project which local officials want. Instead, the authors of the bill say that localities should use the new regional funding sources if they want to buy down the costs of the tolls, even as VDOT diverts $1.12 billion of state and federal funds to the unnecessary Route 460 over the objections of many in the region.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17806/follow-the-money-in-virginias-transportation-bill/#comments">58 comments</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17806 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:48:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17782/virginia-conferees-reach-flawed-transportation-deal/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tpollard/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Trip Pollard</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">As the clock winds down on the 2013 Virginia General Assembly session, a conference committee has reached a deal to eliminate the gas tax, but impose a wholesale tax on gas, divert more general fund revenue to transportation, and charge a $100 per year fee on alternative fuel vehicles. Some of the new funding will go to transit and rail, but the lion's share will go to highway construction. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 141px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/ervega/4345212770/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ervega/4345212770/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201302/210835.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by ervega on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">The conference committee deal would generate an estimated $3.5 billion in additional transportation funds over the next 5 years, roughly $900 million a year after that, and even more in future years. It includes some positive provisions to address our transportation challenges, but is a flawed deal, with a number of provisions that are cause for serious concern. <p style="margin-top: 1em">If approved, the deal will affect for decades how Virginians travel, how much we pay in fees and taxes, and how our tax dollars are spent. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Since Governor McDonnell unveiled his plan the day before session began, there have been plenty of twists and turns to the effort to pass the most significant transportation funding boost in the Commonwealth since 1986. Reflecting the deep disagreement over various proposals, the House and Senate each narrowly adopted a major package, with sharp differences between the two versions. <p style="margin-top: 1em">A conference committee met this week and hammered out the proposed deal that now must pass each chamber. The House and Senate could vote on it as early as today. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Where will the money come from?</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The primary disagreement between the House and Senate has been over whether to raise revenues through the gas tax and other user fees or to take money from the general fund. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Gas tax</b>: The governor's proposal and the House version of the transportation bill would have eliminated the current 17.5&cent; per gallon state gasoline tax, which the Senate voted to raise it and index it for inflation. The conference committee version would eliminate the gas tax, and fill the resulting budget hole (over $4.5 billion in the next five years) by imposing a wholesale tax on gasoline and diesel and increasing the sales tax on vehicle purchases. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Eliminating the gas tax weakens the logical tie between transportation use and funding, and Virginians who use roads less will subsidize those who use the roads more. The compromise does retain elements of a user-pays approach through the wholesale fuels tax and sales tax on vehicle purchases, although it sends a weaker price signal. <p style="margin-top: 1em">A better alternative would have been to increase and/or index the gas tax, or apply the sales tax to gasoline purchases, as the Senate version did. These measures would properly tie fees and taxes to use of public infrastructure and allow revenues to grow with the price of gas. The governor is correct that the gas tax is a declining revenue source, but the main reason it is declining is that it <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11871/', '17782')" href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11871/" style="color: black">doesn't rise with inflation</a> and hasn't been increased since 1986. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>General fund</b>: If much of the proposed funding deal only brings us back to where we are today, where do the additional funds come from? The deal would divert a portion of the existing sales tax, increase the sales tax, and devote possible future online sales tax revenue to transportation. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Sales tax revenues typically go to the general fund. Although transportation is a core function of government, there are few or no other state dedicated revenue sources for education, health care, public safety, and conservation. The deal would divert an estimated $3 billion over the next 5 years that could have gone to other core services, at a time when Virginia ranks 35th in state investment in higher education, 38th in public K-12, and 46th in Medicaid spending. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Clean vehicle fees</b>: The compromise also would impose a $100 fee on alternative fuel vehicles, as the governor had proposed. This "hybrid car tax" is particularly hard to justify when gas taxes are being cut, and it would create a disincentive for purchasing vehicles that help achieve critical goals such as reducing pollution and conserving energy. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Regional funding</b>: The proposed deal also includes regional funding packages of approximately $300-350 million annually for Northern Virginia and $175-200 million annually for Hampton Roads. Funding is likely to come through local sales tax revenues but many details remain unclear. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Where will the money go?</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Amid all the debate, a central issue has largely been ignored: how will the state spend these additional funds? <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Highway construction</b>: The General Assembly authorized almost $4 billion in additional transportation funds just 2 years ago. The administration has earmarked almost all of these funds for roads, and has spent much of the money on destructive projects that do not address pressing transportation needs. <p style="margin-top: 1em">In the proposed deal, although there is some good news for rail and transit, most of the funding again will go to road-building<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>at least $2.6 billion over the next 5 years alone. The ultimate impact of this deal depends on how wisely this money is spent. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Passenger rail funding</b>: Passenger rail is a transportation success story, with record ridership last year. Without dedicated, sustainable funding, however, Virginia could lose its intercity services due to federal funding changes. A bright spot of the proposed deal is that it would provide roughly $50 million annually to preserve and expand passenger rail. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Transit funding and Dulles Rail</b>: The deal would provide additional funding to transit as well. In addition, $300 million would go to Phase 2 of the Dulles Metrorail (Silver Line) project, which would help address the relatively small contribution Virginia has made to a project that could significantly enhance multimodal transportation in one of the nation's leading economic and employment corridors. <p style="margin-top: 1em">However, going forward, it appears transit will only receive about 1/6 of the funding devoted to roads, despite transit's benefits in reducing congestion, energy consumption, and pollution while providing better services for elderly, disabled, and low-income citizens. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The compromise before the General Assembly offers some meaningful benefits, but it has numerous shortcomings and does nothing to advance overdue policy reforms to help ensure that our transportation dollars are used wisely. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Virginia needs a more balanced, efficient, and cleaner transportation system. Time will tell how far this deal gets us. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17782/virginia-conferees-reach-flawed-transportation-deal/#comments">29 comments</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17782 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:28:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17686/corporations-paying-their-due/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Another factor in DC's surplus? It <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcfpi.org/dcs-large-surplus-was-aided-by-efforts-to-close-corporate-tax-shelters', '17686')" href="http://www.dcfpi.org/dcs-large-surplus-was-aided-by-efforts-to-close-corporate-tax-shelters" style="color: black">better enforced existing laws</a> against corporate tax shelters. (DCFPI)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17686/corporations-paying-their-due/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3897/combined-reporting-levels-the-tax-playing-field-for-local-businesses/ style="color: black">Combined reporting levels the tax playing field for local businesses</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 28, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3823/its-time-for-transparency-in-dcs-budget/ style="color: black">It’s time for transparency in DC’s budget</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 20, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17686 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:02:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17690/not-a-local-income-tax/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Northern Virginia officials <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/northern-virginia-officials-cool-to-proposal-allowing-local-tax-hikes-to-pay-for-roads/article/2521032', '17690')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/northern-virginia-officials-cool-to-proposal-allowing-local-tax-hikes-to-pay-for-roads/article/2521032" style="color: black">are less enthusiastic</a> about a measure to let jurisdictions individually raise income taxes to fund transportation, saying the funding needs to be statewide and regional, not just local. (Examiner)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17690/not-a-local-income-tax/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9167/is-there-a-tea-party-urbanism/ style="color: black">Is there a tea party urbanism?</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 9, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17528/virginia-legislators-say-raise-the-gas-tax/ style="color: black">Virginia legislators say "raise the gas tax"</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 29, 2013)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5589/graham-proposes-regional-gas-tax-hike-for-wmata/ style="color: black">Graham proposes regional gas tax hike for WMATA</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 21, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17305/mcdonnells-insane-transportation-plan-no-gas-tax/ style="color: black">McDonnell's insane transportation plan: no gas tax</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 9, 2013)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15234/mcdonnell-admin-drops-another-transit-funding-bombshell/ style="color: black">McDonnell admin. drops another transit funding bombshell</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 18, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17690 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:02:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17573/who-pays-the-most/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC families making $22,000-62,000 <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcfpi.org/dcs-taxes-continue-to-fall-most-heavily-on-dcs-low-middle-income-families', '17573')" href="http://www.dcfpi.org/dcs-taxes-continue-to-fall-most-heavily-on-dcs-low-middle-income-families" style="color: black">pay the greatest share of income</a> in taxes, about 11%; the top 1% and lowest 20% pay a little over 6%. (DCFPI)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17573/who-pays-the-most/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9364/taxes-lowest-for-dc-residents-and-car-free-virginians/ style="color: black">Taxes lowest for DC residents and car-free Virginians</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 22, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9487/dcfpi-responds-to-your-comments-on-tax-report/ style="color: black">DCFPI responds to your comments on tax report</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 2, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14066/maryland-senate-raises-taxes-in-a-more-progressive-way/ style="color: black">Maryland Senate raises taxes in a more progressive way</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 15, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3897/combined-reporting-levels-the-tax-playing-field-for-local-businesses/ style="color: black">Combined reporting levels the tax playing field for local businesses</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 28, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3289/expand-the-sales-tax-to-selected-services-instead-of-raising-rates/ style="color: black">Expand the sales tax to selected services instead of raising rates</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 24, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17573 Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:47:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17510/trump-wont-get-tax-break/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC officials <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trumps-turned-down-in-request-for-tax-relief-on-old-post-office-pavilion/2013/01/27/3f82ff70-6700-11e2-85f5-a8a9228e55e7_story.html', '17510')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trumps-turned-down-in-request-for-tax-relief-on-old-post-office-pavilion/2013/01/27/3f82ff70-6700-11e2-85f5-a8a9228e55e7_story.html" style="color: black">won't give Donald Trump a tax break</a> for the Old Post Office. They say since Trump got the property in competitive bidding, he shouldn't get special treatment now. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17510/trump-wont-get-tax-break/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17510 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:40:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17329/cut-property-taxes-on-the-rich/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Jack Evans wants to give a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2013/01/10/do-we-need-a-lower-property-tax-limit/', '17329')" href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2013/01/10/do-we-need-a-lower-property-tax-limit/" style="color: black">property tax break to the richest Washingto&shy;nians</a>. But DC's property taxes are actually already relatively low in the region. (City Paper)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17329/cut-property-taxes-on-the-rich/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17329 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 08:34:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17311/yet-another-way-to-fund-transit/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Massachusetts' former transportation secretary proposes <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Should-Parking-Taxes-Pay-For-Bike-Lanes.html', '17311')" href="http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Should-Parking-Taxes-Pay-For-Bike-Lanes.html" style="color: black">a tax on parking spaces to fund transportation projects</a> like public transit and improvements to bike and pedestrian facilities. (Governing, jnb)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17311/yet-another-way-to-fund-transit/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13563/omalleys-sales-tax-on-gas-is-the-right-way-to-fund-transport/ style="color: black">O'Malley's sales tax on gas is the right way to fund transport</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 2, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1801/fund-ride-on-not-subsidized-parking-says-transit-first/ style="color: black">Fund Ride-On, not subsidized parking, says Transit First</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 16, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8417/gray-budget-proposal-eliminates-ddot-unified-fund/ style="color: black">Gray budget proposal eliminates DDOT "Unified Fund"</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 7, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1701/ddot-releases-tdm-recommendations-for-new-development/ style="color: black">DDOT releases TDM recommendations for new development</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 17, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1627/usdot-its-cold-so-forget-about-that-silly-transit-thing/ style="color: black">USDOT: it's cold, so forget about that silly transit thing</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 28, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17311 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:33:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17300/cancel-games-lose-revenue/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The Washington Capitals will soon return to the Verizon Center after missing a few months of their season, but Natwar Gandhi estimates the District <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2013/01/nhl_lockout_cost_dc_200000_per_game.php', '17300')" href="http://dcist.com/2013/01/nhl_lockout_cost_dc_200000_per_game.php" style="color: black">lost $200,000</a> for each cancelled game, or $6.4 million in total. (DCist)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17300/cancel-games-lose-revenue/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17300 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:52:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17288/trump-doesnt-want-to-pay/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">After winning a bid to redevelop the Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue, Donald Trump <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2013/01/trump-seeks-relief-from-dc-tax-on.html?ana=twt', '17288')" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2013/01/trump-seeks-relief-from-dc-tax-on.html?ana=twt" style="color: black">doesn't want to have to pay taxes</a> on the commercial space in the property. (WBJ) ... Union Station <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2013/01/04/union-station-tax-dispute-is-settled-also-not-settled/?wprss=rss_mike-debonis', '17288')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2013/01/04/union-station-tax-dispute-is-settled-also-not-settled/?wprss=rss_mike-debonis" style="color: black">just agreed to pay the same tax</a>, but still may challenge in court DC's right to levy it. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17288/trump-doesnt-want-to-pay/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17288 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:38:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17224/fiscal-cliff-deal-restores-transit-benefit/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Congress reached a deal to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff," and transit riders get a bonus: the Senate included a provision raising the federal transit benefit to $240 per month. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 199px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisbossi/4785830494/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisbossi/4785830494/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201301/020902.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by thisisbossi on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">Today, employers can offer their workers a pretax deduction for transit of up to $125 per month, and some employers, including the federal government, will give that much in transit fare to workers outright as an extra perk. The benefit was $230 per month until the beginning of last year, when a provision in the law expired and it reset to a lower level. <p style="margin-top: 1em">There's a similar benefit for parking costs, but workers can deduct more than for transit<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>up to $240 per month since the start of 2012. Some members of Congress had been trying to restore parity between transit and parking benefits, and <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/senate-bill-restores-federal-transit-benefits/article/371901', '17224')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/senate-bill-restores-federal-transit-benefits/article/371901" style="color: black">got it into the Senate's transportation bill</a> in March, but the provision didn't survive into the final bill. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The bill Congress just approved for the "fiscal cliff" contains this provision, meaning benefits go up to $240 per month, several people have confirmed. Unfortunately, it's still only temporary, as this new level expires again at the end of 2013 unless Congress extends it once more. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Technically, the new level is also retroactive until the start of 2012, but unlike with tax credits you can claim on this April's taxes for activities in 2012, there's no way for riders to realistically take advantage of it for months gone by. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Tom Bulger, a WMATA board member and lobbyist who's been pushing for the extension, noted that Congressional Republicans had been strongly opposed to any changes in law that increase any taxes, including letting previous tax cuts expire, but hadn't extended that same passion to the transit benefit. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Even if House Republicans just went along somewhat reluctantly with a Senate deal yesterday, in approving this extension, they were now able to give many American workers a tax cut along with helping our cities function more effectively and ending one small example of the many ways government "picks winners and losers" among transportation modes.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17224/fiscal-cliff-deal-restores-transit-benefit/#comments">36 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5859/is-the-federal-transit-benefit-actually-bad/ style="color: black">Is the federal transit benefit actually bad?</a> <span class="nw">(May 18, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13827/house-bill-delayed-but-transit-walking-biking-arent-safe-yet/ style="color: black">House bill delayed, but transit, walking, biking aren't safe yet</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 23, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4063/many-employers-wont-refund-unused-pretax-smartbenefits/ style="color: black">Many employers won't refund unused pretax SmartBenefits</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 13, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11510/debt-deal-could-mean-more-painful-cuts-for-transportation/ style="color: black">Debt deal could mean more painful cuts for transportation</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 1, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2593/when-will-oberstars-transportation-bill-drop-place-your-bets-now/ style="color: black">When will Oberstar's transportation bill drop? Place your bets now</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 10, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17224 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:14:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17148/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Same-sex couples in Maryland will <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2012/12/same-sex_couples_in_maryland_will_b.php', '17148')" href="http://dcist.com/2012/12/same-sex_couples_in_maryland_will_b.php" style="color: black">be able to file joint taxes</a> after all. (DCist) ... Learn the history of the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/12/brief-history-barnes-dance/4189/', '17148')" href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/12/brief-history-barnes-dance/4189/" style="color: black">Barnes Dance</a>. (Atlantic Cities) ... Anyone know Metro's <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/12/its-not-cool-bring-ponies-berlins-subway/4206/', '17148')" href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/12/its-not-cool-bring-ponies-berlins-subway/4206/" style="color: black">policy on ponies</a>? (Atlantic Cities) ... Joe Lieberman <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2012/12/19/gee-thanks-joe/', '17148')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/mike-debonis/wp/2012/12/19/gee-thanks-joe/" style="color: black">supports DC statehood</a> now that he's retiring and it's too late to pass a bill or even get a hearing. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17148/and/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17148 Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:36:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17120/tide-turning-on-national-vmt-study/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Congressman Earl Blumenauer introduced a bill to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/12/17/blumenauer-lets-stop-hiding-in-fear-of-a-mileage-fee/', '17120')" href="http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/12/17/blumenauer-lets-stop-hiding-in-fear-of-a-mileage-fee/" style="color: black">mandate that Treasury study a VMT tax</a>. The sponsor of a previous bill banning the USDOT from studying VMT tax lost reelection. (Streetsblog)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17120/tide-turning-on-national-vmt-study/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13827/house-bill-delayed-but-transit-walking-biking-arent-safe-yet/ style="color: black">House bill delayed, but transit, walking, biking aren't safe yet</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 23, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2608/oberstar-to-release-transportation-outline-on-wednesday/ style="color: black">Oberstar to release transportation outline on Wednesday</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 15, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13581/house-gop-moves-to-decimate-transit-funding/ style="color: black">House GOP moves to decimate transit funding</a> <span class="nw">(Feb 2, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15114/house-gop-would-wipe-out-local-control-over-bike-ped-funds/ style="color: black">House GOP would wipe out local control over bike/ped funds</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 8, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2692/staa-tuned-transportation-bill-leaves-funding-question-hanging/ style="color: black">STAA tuned: Transportation bill leaves funding question hanging</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 23, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17120 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:24:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17039/tax-land-not-buildings/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Minneapolis is looking to reduce surface parking. Should cities <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.streets.mn/2012/12/10/tax-land-not-buildings/', '17039')" href="http://www.streets.mn/2012/12/10/tax-land-not-buildings/" style="color: black">tax land for their development potential</a> to encourage higher-value and more intensive uses, and discourage surface parking? (Streets.mn)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17039/tax-land-not-buildings/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10752/where-are-dcs-downtown-surface-parking-lots/ style="color: black">Where are DC's downtown surface parking lots?</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 6, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2822/reserve-public-land-for-a-street-connection-at-minnesota-and-benning/ style="color: black">Reserve public land for a street connection at Minnesota and Benning</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 7, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8190/demand-a-better-wal-mart-on-city-land/ style="color: black">Demand a better Wal-Mart on city land</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 19, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=17039 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:20:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16976/tysons-tax-vote-pushed-back/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Fairfax Supervisors <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/fairfax-supervisors-delay-decision-on-raising-real-estate-taxes-on-tysons-corner/2012/12/04/83520690-3e80-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story.html', '16976')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/fairfax-supervisors-delay-decision-on-raising-real-estate-taxes-on-tysons-corner/2012/12/04/83520690-3e80-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story.html" style="color: black">delayed a vote</a> on raising Tysons real estate taxes to fund transportation upgrades</a>. Supervisors have supported the proposal, but are again considering adding an exemption for residential landowners. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16976/tysons-tax-vote-pushed-back/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7742/proposed-tysons-metro-station-names-are-still-a-little-dull/ style="color: black">Proposed Tysons Metro station names are still a little dull</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 21, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/12212/capital-ones-tysons-redevelopment-needs-more-housing/ style="color: black">Capital One's Tysons redevelopment needs more housing</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 28, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3935/reins-omg-15-billion-tysons-costs-include-transportation-far-from-tysons/ style="color: black">Rein's "OMG $15 billion" Tysons costs include transportation far from Tysons</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 30, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3972/bulova-tysons-15-billion-is-false/ style="color: black">Bulova: Tysons $15 billion is false</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 4, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3516/tysons-planners-making-a-city-is-hard-so-never-mind/ style="color: black">Tysons planners: Making a city is hard, so never mind</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 15, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16976 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 08:36:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16961/arlington-may-close-tax-dodging-restaurants/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Arlington's treasurer wants the authority to <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.arlnow.com/2012/12/03/exclusive-oleary-seeking-power-to-shut-down-deadbeat-restaurants/', '16961')" href="http://www.arlnow.com/2012/12/03/exclusive-oleary-seeking-power-to-shut-down-deadbeat-restaurants/" style="color: black">shut down restaurants</a> flouting the county's meal tax. He says the power to seize property is insufficient, as many restaurants own little property. (ARLnow)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16961/arlington-may-close-tax-dodging-restaurants/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8958/virginia-republican-pursuing-vendetta-against-arlington-for-not-wanting-to-be-a-giant-interchange/ style="color: black">Virginia Republican pursuing vendetta against Arlington for not wanting to be a "giant interchange"</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 25, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/7320/arlington-meters-should-run-after-dark/ style="color: black">Arlington meters should run after dark</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 2, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15612/tell-arlington-to-build-the-columbia-pike-streetcar/ style="color: black">Tell Arlington to build the Columbia Pike streetcar</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 20, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11595/arlington-right-to-close-slip-lane-in-arlington-ridge/ style="color: black">Arlington right to close slip lane in Arlington Ridge</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 8, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1552/envirocab-sets-a-green-example-in-arlington/ style="color: black">enviroCAB sets a green example in Arlington</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 5, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16961 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 08:27:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16672/and/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">The speed limit on the ICC <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://washingtonexaminer.com/maryland-considers-raising-icc-speed-limit-to-60-mph/article/2512495', '16672')" href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/maryland-considers-raising-icc-speed-limit-to-60-mph/article/2512495" style="color: black">may rise from 55 to 60 mph</a>. (Examiner) ... Could higher application fees <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21918493/denver-mulling-plan-raise-fee-seek-landmark-status?', '16672')" href="http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21918493/denver-mulling-plan-raise-fee-seek-landmark-status?" style="color: black">discourage historic preservation abuse</a>? (Denver Post) ... Bay Area voters will decide on a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Alameda-Co-weighs-transportation-plan-4006491.php', '16672')" href="http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Alameda-Co-weighs-transportation-plan-4006491.php" style="color: black">sales tax for dedicated transportation funding</a>. (SF Chronicle)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16672/and/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16672 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:29:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16490/tysons-pushes-forward/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/tbell/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Thaddeus Bell</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Fairfax County <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fairfax-board-backs-tysons-transportation-funding-plan-homeowners-would-pay-too/2012/10/16/4149fad4-17fa-11e2-9855-71f2b202721b_story.html', '16490')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fairfax-board-backs-tysons-transportation-funding-plan-homeowners-would-pay-too/2012/10/16/4149fad4-17fa-11e2-9855-71f2b202721b_story.html" style="color: black">approved a $3.1 billion funding plan</a> for Tysons Corner, including contributions from developers and a property tax district to raise funds for the grid of streets, parks, community centers and more. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16490/tysons-pushes-forward/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3935/reins-omg-15-billion-tysons-costs-include-transportation-far-from-tysons/ style="color: black">Rein's "OMG $15 billion" Tysons costs include transportation far from Tysons</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 30, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3972/bulova-tysons-15-billion-is-false/ style="color: black">Bulova: Tysons $15 billion is false</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 4, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14053/last-chance-to-weigh-in-on-silver-line-station-names/ style="color: black">Last chance to weigh in on Silver Line station names</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 18, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/13478/dont-cut-new-tysons-corner-in-two/ style="color: black">Don't cut new Tysons Corner in two</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 26, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3726/fairfax-greasing-the-chain/ style="color: black">Fairfax greasing the chain</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 8, 2009)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16490 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 08:33:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16420/hey-silicon-valley-tech-will-not-solve-every-problem/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Technology is great. It has made our lives better in countless ways. It has the potential to solve a lot of problems. However, it will not cure every social ill or remedy every injustice. <p style="margin-top: 1em">That doesn't stop some folks in the Bay Area from letting their tech evangelism go just a little over the top, making it sound like they think technology will indeed solve every problem. This video advocating for a San Francisco tax law change, released today and featuring a number of well-known entrepreneurs, edges over that line: <p style="margin-top: 1em"><div class="embed"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PlaJOE8yflo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Uptown Almanac <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://uptownalmanac.com/2012/10/liveblogging-sfcitis-technology-will-create-smarter-san-francisco-video', '16420')" href="http://uptownalmanac.com/2012/10/liveblogging-sfcitis-technology-will-create-smarter-san-francisco-video" style="color: black">poked fun at the video</a>, translating its text:<blockquote><i>0:02 - "San Francisco is dope and all..." <br> 0:05 - "...but people get parking tickets and bikers look like assholes in my rear-view mirror." <br> 0:10 - Disenchanted high school vice principal reveals himself: "It'd be awesome if we used technology to cure aggro cyclists. Let's give it a shot."</i></blockquote>When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_instrument', '16420')" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_instrument" style="color: black">said some guys named Abraham</a>, and Silicon Valley attracts hordes of people who have a lot of computer, smartphone, and social network hammers. When I go back to visit friends there, there's always a bit of culture shock hearing some people talk so effusively about how their piece of technology is going to singlehandedly solve problems of illiteracy, poverty, war or whatever. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Of course, Washington can sometimes fall into the opposite trap, thinking that government can solve every problem. Neither is true. We need innovative startups, large companies, and boring government agencies all working together. It doesn't help when government officials are totally ignorant of startups, but also a little ridiculous for startup people to ignore the value of institutions besides those with 2-100 software engineers in a suburban garage or San Francisco loft. <p style="margin-top: 1em">This particular video happens to be an ad for a ballot initiative, Proposition E, that would change the tax code in a way that would work better for startups. Uptown Almanac notes:<blockquote><i>Now, this isn't all to say that Prop E is bad (it isn't, and it's supported by pretty much every politician, NGO, and newspaper in town), nor that free public wifi would be bad for SF (it would plug up all those cellphone dead zones, reduce utility bills for businesses and residents, provide ever-necessary connectivity to low-income students and families). <p style="margin-top: 1em">However, this ad does more than exaggerate Prop E's benefits or make small fibs<wbr>&mdash;<wbr>it is straight up deceitful in claiming voting in favor of Prop E will do anything to improve ordinary San Franciscan's problems. Prop E won't give you wifi or fix Muni; all it will do is improve the San Francisco business tax code, largely for the benefit of tech start-ups.</i></blockquote>Twitter co-founder Biz Stone talks in the video about how great it would be to place a real-time information screen on every bus stop. That would, indeed, be great. The obstacle to doing that is very little about tech startups and very much about the fact that someone, probably the government, has to pay to buy, install, and maintain that equipment. It would be great if San Francisco, DC, or other cities did just that, but they're not going to do it with tax policy. <p style="margin-top: 1em">(Disclosure: I worked with Biz for a little while, after Google bought his innovative startup Blogger and gradually smothered it under a mountain of amazingly scalable yet complex infrastructure and brilliant executives who all wanted to make every decision, and before he left to start some more innovative startups.) <p style="margin-top: 1em">At a recent conference, Google Ventures' Joe Kraus said, "<a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.businessinsider.com/google-ventures-joe-kraus-smartphone-transportation-2012-9', '16420')" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/google-ventures-joe-kraus-smartphone-transportation-2012-9" style="color: black">In 5 to 10 years, your smartphone will replace your car.</a>" Smartphones can perform the function of watches, flashlights, even bubble levels, but unless they get a lot bigger and grow wheels, they won't replace the car, bus, train, or bike. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Kraus obviously knows this, and really meant, "your smartphone will be your first go-to resource for a trip instead of just hopping in your car." And it will. It'll let you plan a trip by driving, <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://bikeplanner.org/', '16420')" href="http://bikeplanner.org/" style="color: black">bicycling</a>, or <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://opentripplanner.com/', '16420')" href="http://opentripplanner.com/" style="color: black">transit</a>. It can let you <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://reroute.it/', '16420')" href="http://reroute.it/" style="color: black">compare the travel times, costs, and greenhouse gas impacts</a> of each mode. It can get you a taxi or a shared ride (if regulators don't <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Putting-brakes-on-ride-sharing-apps-3927193.php', '16420')" href="http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Putting-brakes-on-ride-sharing-apps-3927193.php" style="color: black">shut many of those down</a>). It can show you traffic and transit delays. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Kraus wouldn't have gotten the same level of press if he had just said, "Your smartphone is going to be really useful for transportation." But while his statement might have been a lot of puffery, there's a fine line between saying that and a lot of people actually believing that the only thing you have to do to solve social problems is devise the perfect app. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Sometimes, an app or just cheaper technology can make a lot of people's lives better, but sometimes you also need other tools as well.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16420/hey-silicon-valley-tech-will-not-solve-every-problem/#comments">8 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15520/in-uber-fight-silicon-valley-washington-philosophies-clash/ style="color: black">In Uber fight, Silicon Valley & Washington philosophies clash</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 10, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15378/what-is-a-tech-company-how-do-you-build-a-tech-sector/ style="color: black">What is a tech company? How do you build a tech sector?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 16, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/10394/tax-cuts-and-tech-jobs-wont-solve-dc-unemployment/ style="color: black">Tax cuts and tech jobs won't solve DC unemployment</a> <span class="nw">(May 11, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15461/what-would-you-ask-livingsocial-or-dc-officials/ style="color: black">What would you ask LivingSocial or DC officials?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 5, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16182/a-tech-investor-tax-cut-wont-help-the-tech-sector/ style="color: black">A tech investor tax cut won't help the tech sector</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 18, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16420 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:22:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16324/food-trucks-collect-tax/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC's food trucks <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2012/10/food_truck_sales_tax_takes_effect_t.php', '16324')" href="http://dcist.com/2012/10/food_truck_sales_tax_takes_effect_t.php" style="color: black">have started collecting sales tax</a>. Brick-and-mortar restaurants said the previous arrangement was unfair, since they had to pay sales taxes and the two often compete. (DCist)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16324/food-trucks-collect-tax/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/9688/food-trucks-enhance-brick-and-mortar-restaurants/ style="color: black">Food trucks enhance brick-and-mortar restaurants</a> <span class="nw">(Mar 16, 2011)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5607/food-trucks-could-fill-in-retail-gaps/ style="color: black">Food trucks could fill in retail gaps</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 22, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1995/equalize-online-and-offline-sales-taxes/ style="color: black">Equalize online and offline sales taxes</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 8, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3289/expand-the-sales-tax-to-selected-services-instead-of-raising-rates/ style="color: black">Expand the sales tax to selected services instead of raising rates</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 24, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8012/should-dc-dump-the-sales-tax/ style="color: black">Should DC dump the sales tax?</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 29, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16324 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:16:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16282/help-fairfax-pay-for-transport/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Fairfax is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://fallschurch.patch.com/articles/transportation-funding-survey-opens-today', '16282')" href="http://fallschurch.patch.com/articles/transportation-funding-survey-opens-today" style="color: black">trying to decide how to raise more money</a> for transportation, possibly sales or income taxes. There's a survey for residents to weigh in on the best solution. (Patch)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16282/help-fairfax-pay-for-transport/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16282 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:21:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16241/pay-dc-more-hotel-money/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">A judge says <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2012/09/dc-wins-big-in-lawsuit-against.html?page=all', '16241')" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2012/09/dc-wins-big-in-lawsuit-against.html?page=all" style="color: black">travel companies owe DC millions</a> in hotel taxes. They charge retail rates online but only pay taxes on the wholesale rates they pay. Before DC gets a dime, though, there <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2012/09/despite-court-victory-issues-still-to.html', '16241')" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2012/09/despite-court-victory-issues-still-to.html" style="color: black">will surely be appeals</a>. (WBJ)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16241/pay-dc-more-hotel-money/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16182/a-tech-investor-tax-cut-wont-help-the-tech-sector/ style="color: black">A tech investor tax cut won't help the tech sector</a> <span class="nw">(Sep 18, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1995/equalize-online-and-offline-sales-taxes/ style="color: black">Equalize online and offline sales taxes</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 8, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15017/dont-waste-public-money-to-woo-bloomingdales/ style="color: black">Don't waste public money to woo Bloomingdale's</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 1, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3897/combined-reporting-levels-the-tax-playing-field-for-local-businesses/ style="color: black">Combined reporting levels the tax playing field for local businesses</a> <span class="nw">(Oct 28, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/1424/metro-plans-to-share-parking-with-marriott-hotel/ style="color: black">Metro plans to share parking with Marriott hotel</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 17, 2008)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16241 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:23:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16182/a-tech-investor-tax-cut-wont-help-the-tech-sector/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/karcher/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Ken Archer</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">Tomorrow, the DC Council will vote on a bill to give investors in tech companies a huge tax break. Taking steps to build the tech sector and diversify our economy makes sense, but this tax break will simply not actually stimulate more technology investment. <div class="blog_image_right" style="width: 188px; float: right; font-size: 8pt;"><a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.flickr.com/photos/spike55151/418782213/', '')" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spike55151/418782213/" style="color: black"><img src="http://greatergreater.com/images/201209/181204.jpg" style="border: 0"></a><br>Photo by spike55151 on Flickr.</div><p style="margin-top: 1em">The Gray administration proposed the bill, the <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcclims1.dccouncil.us/images/00001/20120405171823.pdf', '16182')" href="http://dcclims1.dccouncil.us/images/00001/20120405171823.pdf" style="color: black">Technology Sector Enhancement Act</a>, this past spring. It has some good provisions: for example, it will remove a requirement that tech companies locate in <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://geospatial.dcgis.dc.gov/incentive/', '16182')" href="http://geospatial.dcgis.dc.gov/incentive/" style="color: black">special zones</a> to receive start-up tax breaks. We need startups everywhere, not just in a few places. <p style="margin-top: 1em">But the centerpiece of the legislation reduces the capital gains tax for DC investors in DC tech companies from 8.95% to 3%. The rationale is to encourage more investment in tech companies, but it won't work. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>Venture capitalists don't choose investments based on capital gains taxes</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">I own a software company in Tysons Corner and have worked with several venture capitalists over the past decade. It is inconceivable that these investors would avoid investing in a company that otherwise would produce a tenfold return simply because the capital gains would be taxed at 8.95%. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Most venture funds look for companies that could potentially grow big and make back 10 to 30 times the initial investment. Instead of trying to make a few percentage points on each investment, venture captalists figure they'll lose money on most of the startups, and then make their profits with the occasional home run. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Let's say an early-stage fund has $10 million, and invests an average of $200,000 in 50 companies. Its goal is to make a multiple of 3, which means it wants its investment to be worth $30 million after taxes at the end of 10 years. But every company won't be worth 3 times as much. Instead, it might expect only to make money on 10 of those 50 companies. <p style="margin-top: 1em">To make $30 million, it will need each of those 10 successes to be worth 15 times as much as when they invested. If the fund pays 3% capital gains tax, they need a multiple of 15.5. If the fund pays 8.95% capital gains tax, they need a multiple of 16.5. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Does anyone seriously think that that difference will bring in additional investment for DC tech companies? <p style="margin-top: 1em">The Gray administration also argues that reducing the capital gains tax rate for tech investors will keep them in DC. In Virginia, capital gains tax rates for tech investments is 0%. <p style="margin-top: 1em">But investors aren't going to fund a DC company that they believe less likely to succeed just because, if it does, it would only have to be worth 15&frac12 times as much instead of 16&frac12;. They are looking for companies most likely to make it to the stage of getting bought or going public at all. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Also, venture capital at any stage is regional, not confined to a county. In fact, most investors in DC tech companies live outside of DC. <p style="margin-top: 1em"><b>What is a tech company?</b> <p style="margin-top: 1em">If this tax cut passes, it will create a loophole that is big enough to drive a truck through. Why? The definition of a technology company is such that, according to an <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/fiscal_impact/pdf/spring09/FIS%20B19-747%20Technology%20Sector%20Enhancement%20Act%20of%202012.pdf', '16182')" href="http://app.cfo.dc.gov/services/fiscal_impact/pdf/spring09/FIS%20B19-747%20Technology%20Sector%20Enhancement%20Act%20of%202012.pdf" style="color: black">analysis of the DC CFO</a>, many companies would reclassify themselves as <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/lib/otr/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/hitech_pub399.pdf', '16182')" href="http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/otr/lib/otr/tax/forms/tax_forms/pdf/hitech_pub399.pdf" style="color: black">tech companies</a> in DC to enjoy this loophole. <p style="margin-top: 1em">The CFO testified that the "negative impact cannot be reliably estimated at this time, but it could be substantial." <p style="margin-top: 1em">If the goal of this policy is to increase revenue by keeping investors in DC, then why limit it to tech companies? This tax loophole won't contribute another dime in investment to DC tech companies, and will only make it harder to reduce tax rates for everyone. <p style="margin-top: 1em">Mayor Gray created a <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://dcist.com/2012/03/former_mayor_williams_to_chair_tax.php', '16182')" href="http://dcist.com/2012/03/former_mayor_williams_to_chair_tax.php" style="color: black">Tax Revision Commission</a>, led by former Mayor Anthony Williams, to recommend broad-based tax reform. Let's wait for the commission to finish its work instead of undercutting its with a poorly-conceived tax loophole. <p style="margin-top: 1em">If you agree, use the form below to tell the council to hold off on this tax loophole.<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/16182/a-tech-investor-tax-cut-wont-help-the-tech-sector/#comments">19 comments</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15378/what-is-a-tech-company-how-do-you-build-a-tech-sector/ style="color: black">What is a tech company? How do you build a tech sector?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 16, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14540/will-livingsocial-help-build-a-tech-hub-in-dc/ style="color: black">Will LivingSocial help build a tech hub in DC?</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 24, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15462/dc-tech-execs-ask-for-better-spaces-for-startups/ style="color: black">DC tech execs ask for better spaces for startups</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 6, 2012)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4103/deputy-mayor-wants-to-give-7-million-to-one-tech-company/ style="color: black">Deputy Mayor wants to give $7 million to one tech company</a> <span class="nw">(Nov 24, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15461/what-would-you-ask-livingsocial-or-dc-officials/ style="color: black">What would you ask LivingSocial or DC officials?</a> <span class="nw">(Jul 5, 2012)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=16182 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:18:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15956/give-tax-breaks-a-break/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC is attracting investment in its tech sector <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.dcfpi.org/dcs-tech-sector-is-attracting-investment-without-the-lure-of-tax-breaks', '15956')" href="http://www.dcfpi.org/dcs-tech-sector-is-attracting-investment-without-the-lure-of-tax-breaks" style="color: black">even without special tax breaks</a>. Across the country, such tax breaks seem to have little impact on attracting investment. (DCFPI)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15956/give-tax-breaks-a-break/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4537/give-me-a-break-tax-incentives-should-be-regional-not-local/ style="color: black">Give me a break: Tax incentives should be regional, not local</a> <span class="nw">(Jan 6, 2010)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/8595/council-needs-help-judging-tax-breaks/ style="color: black">Council needs help judging tax breaks</a> <span class="nw">(Dec 21, 2010)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15956 Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:17:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15892/tax-on-downward-facing-dog/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/syates/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">Steven Yates</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC is trying to raise <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://wamu.org/news/12/08/16/dc_to_crack_down_on_outdoor_fitness_classes_in_public_parks', '15892')" href="http://wamu.org/news/12/08/16/dc_to_crack_down_on_outdoor_fitness_classes_in_public_parks" style="color: black">revenue from fitness programs</a> that take place in city-run parks, and try to spread those services out to underserved areas. (WAMU)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15892/tax-on-downward-facing-dog/#comments">Comment</a></p><div><span class="related_posts_title">Related posts:</span><ul style="margin: 0"><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3289/expand-the-sales-tax-to-selected-services-instead-of-raising-rates/ style="color: black">Expand the sales tax to selected services instead of raising rates</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 24, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/930/parking-at-sherman-and-park/ style="color: black">Park(ing) at Sherman and Park</a> <span class="nw">(Jun 10, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2177/whats-a-tax-whats-a-fee-and-whats-just-a-shell-game/ style="color: black">What's a tax, what's a fee, and what's just a shell game</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 28, 2009)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/796/dont-call-it-a-park/ style="color: black">Don't call it a park</a> <span class="nw">(Apr 28, 2008)</span><li><a href=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11857/its-parks-and-recreation-not-just-recreation/ style="color: black">It's parks AND recreation, not just recreation</a> <span class="nw">(Aug 30, 2011)</span></ul></div> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15892 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:24:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15803/commercial-properties-get-lower-assessments/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">DC is <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/surge-in-dc-tax-office-settlements-reduces-commercial-property-owners-bills/2012/08/07/5af75372-d1c4-11e1-8bea-6dc0b4879aab_story.html', '15803')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/surge-in-dc-tax-office-settlements-reduces-commercial-property-owners-bills/2012/08/07/5af75372-d1c4-11e1-8bea-6dc0b4879aab_story.html" style="color: black">settling a lot of appeals</a> of commercial property taxes. Some think OTR is being too lenient, while others say the initial assessments are wildly inaccurate. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15803/commercial-properties-get-lower-assessments/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15803 Wed, 08 Aug 2012 08:30:00 EDT http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15677/hoyer-hates-commuter-tax/ by <a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/alpert/" style="color: black"><span class="byline_name">David Alpert</span></a> <p style="margin-top: 1em">House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) says <a target="_blank" onClick="return countClick('http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/steny-hoyer-dc-commuter-tax-wont-pass/2012/07/25/gJQAnGzx8W_blog.html', '15677')" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/steny-hoyer-dc-commuter-tax-wont-pass/2012/07/25/gJQAnGzx8W_blog.html" style="color: black">there's no chance Congress will approve</a> letting DC tax income earned in DC, like every other state can and Darrell Issa (R-CA) recently endorsed. He's so opposed, he also threatened to push to move federal jobs out of DC if it does. (Post)<p style="margin-top: 1em"><a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/15677/hoyer-hates-commuter-tax/#comments">Comment</a></p> http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=15677 Thu, 26 Jul 2012 08:33:00 EDT