Tag: taxes
Plastic bag tax fails in Virginia General Assembly
Plastic bags clog a stream feeding into the Chesapeake Bay. By Elizabeth Kirchner Despite widespread grassroots support and the possibility of about $20 million in annual revenue dedicated to Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts, a bill establishing a 5-cent “plastic bag tax” failed to get out of committee Jan 21. The bill, introduced in the Virginia … Continued
Congressional candidates share views on economy, guns, and climate change
Suzanne Scholte Residents of the 11th congressional district packed a meeting room at the Fairfax Regional Library Sept. 10 to hear from the three candidates challenging Rep. Gerry Connolly (D) in the November election. The participants were Republican Suzanne Scholte, Green Party candidate Joe Galdo, and Libertarian Marc Harrold. The session was hosted by the … Continued
Back-to-school tax holiday this weekend
School doesn’t start until Sept. 2, but if you want to take advantage of Virginia’s back-to-school tax holiday, you’ve got to start shopping this weekend. Shoppers won’t be charged sales tax for eligible clothing and school supplies purchased on Friday, Aug. 1, through Sunday, Aug. 3. To qualify for the tax break, articles of clothing … Continued
Fairfax County economy mostly stable
A new report on the economic health of Fairfax County by the county’s Department of Management and Budget shows slight improvements in some indicators, while others are down a bit or unchanged. Here are some key findings: The unemployment rate in Fairfax County decreased from 4.1 percent in March 2014 to 3.6 percent in April … Continued
Task force fails to reach a consensus on a meals tax referendum
An anti-meals tax sign at Silverado’s in Annandale. Many restaurant owners oppose a meals tax, while advocates for more funding for schools, libraries, the arts, and social services support it. A task force appointed by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova to consider whether a meals tax referendum should be put on the … Continued
Fairfax County supervisors call for slight increase in school funds
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agreed to raise the amount of county funds transferred to the public schools by another 1 percent in the marked-up budget voted on March 22, for a total increase of 3. The advertised budget for 2015 called for increasing the funds transferred to Fairfax County Public Schools by 2 … Continued
Bulova appoints task force to consider meals tax referendum
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova appointed a task force April 22 to explore the possibility of putting a meals tax referendum on the ballot. The task force will submit its recommendations to the board June 17. The task force will be co-chaired by former BoS Chair Kate Hanley and former BoS Chair … Continued
Police warn public of ‘massive tax scam’
Tax scammers have been harassing hundreds of Fairfax County residents over the past several weeks, the Police Department reports. Aggressive callers have been telling people they have “overdue tax balances” and demanding they wire $4,000 to $6,000 immediately. The telephone scammers have been threatening people with statements like: “Your driver’s license has been suspended,” “You … Continued
Study confirms economic benefits of Columbia Pike Streetcar
The Columbia Pike Streetcar system will generate $3.2 billion to $4.4 billion in incremental benefits for Arlington and Fairfax County over the next 30 years, reports a study released March 26 by H&R Advisors Inc. That’s $2.2 billion to $3 billion more than would be generated by an enhanced bus system. The benefits derive from … Continued
School funding, taxes dominate Mason Budget Town Hall
Fairfax County Executive Edward Long and Mason Supervisor Penny Gross. Would the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors agree to raise the property tax rate to provide more money for the budget-strapped school system? That’s one of the key questions for the board to decide over the next few weeks. That issue was brought up by … Continued
FCPS leaders urge supervisors to avert school budget crisis
A fourth-grade class at Mason Crest Elementary School. Now that the Board of Supervisors has released an advertised budget for fiscal year 2015 that would only provide a 2 percent increase in the amount of funds to be transferred to Fairfax County Public Schools—rather than a 5.7 percent increase sought by Superintendent Karen Garza and … Continued
Board of Supervisors to consider two-cent increase in tax rate
The Board of Supervisors The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted March 4 to advertise a fiscal year 2015 real estate tax rate of $1.105 per $100 of assessed value. That’s a two-cent increase from the current rate of $1.085. “Advertising a higher rate sets an upper threshold as budget decisions are considered,” said BoS … Continued
Real estate property assessments up about 8.2 percent in Annandale
Assessments for townhouses, like this community in Annandale, rose more than single-family houses. Annandale residential property assessments for 2014 are up an average of 8.22 percent over last year, the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration reported Feb. 25. Only three other “zip code areas” have average assessments that have increased more: Centreville (8.39 percent), … Continued
Workshops focus on helping eligible people apply for property tax relief
Residents who qualify for real estate tax relief are invited to attend a workshop at the Mason District Government Center hosted by Mason Supervisor Penny Gross in collaboration with the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration. At the workshops, scheduled for March 4 and 6, 9 a.m.-noon, county staff will help residents complete the tax … Continued
Tax help available for Mason residents
Volunteers from AARP are offering free, walk-in tax preparation assistance at the Mason District Government Center (6507 Columbia Pike) until April 15. This Tax-Aide program is available 1-8 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays; 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays. All returns are filed electronically. You’ll need to … Continued