I don't usually get to write on local issues, so it was a nice change of pace.

http://bearingdrift.com/2014/06/06/opposition-to-meals-tax-in-fairfax-unites-the-gop/

Enjoy.

Good article Brian. I oppose the meals tax. Is there any tax increase Mr. Foust has not been in favor of? The Dranesville District needs a new Supervisor who understands the economy.
You should run

to cover the valued services expected by all residents, and taxes have been lowered over the Boosh depression to save taxpayers $$$, but now it's time to increase taxes.

Or something.

The county is overrun by illegals and homos from Maryland. Fairfax can't be saved. Take all you can from it regarding services and then move when the kids leave home and/or you retire. It's what they want you to do.

Nice. Put a picture of a child in our ad -- THINK OF THE CHILDREN (not the issue). Since most school children are overweight according to Michelle, they must not be starving.

It's not like this was an old tax that was lowered during the recent recession. This is a _new_ tax to provide additional income to the schools (and without reading the proposal I don't believe that either). I was recently told that my property taxes had to be raised to pay for schools. Now I need a meal tax to pay for schools as well?

The argument that this only affects tourists is ridiculous since tourists should not be paying for children to go to school. That is the responsilibity of the resident population. Tourists use infrastructre, not schools. This is why the gas tax is (should be) used to pay for transportation projects.

Why don't they raise the hotel tax if tourists are the target for the tax?

>Why don't they raise the hotel tax if tourists are the target for the tax?

That would unfairly target politicians sleeping with employees.

can't do that who would fund the politicians

its an open secret developers run this county

oh nose Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> can't do that who would fund the politicians
>
> its an open secret developers run this county

Shut up dammit! You're not allowed to say that.

Pretty soon people are going to be fed up with all of Fairfax' tax increases. One problem is County executive Ed Long, who says people should be willing to pay higher taxes for fewer services. One less service, how about the office of the County executive? It may just be time for these people to go!

these are tourists Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why don't they raise the hotel tax if tourists are
> the target for the tax?


They already did with the transportation bill though I believe that's tagged specifically for transportation purposes.

The tourist basis for the meals tax will not be true here. That's just a selling point that proponents have put out related to the fire games thing as a way to justify it on the basis of potential money not captured. Locals will end up paying the bulk of this tax.

How about a meals tax only on all the restaurants catering to the illegal locusts. That way is more like a user fee with those deriving the benefits chipping in.

I thought that the 'progressive' libs hated regressive taxes like this?

I guess when it comes down to it for them any tax is better than no tax even if it is regressive.

>Locals will end up paying the bulk of this tax

No doubt. It will extend just a bit further than "meals at a restaurant" -- from the white paper (really Virginia?) prepared November 2013:

>selling prepared foods at a delicatessen counter or must collect this tax

So, purchasing an already cooked chicken from Safeway will be taxed? Salad bars are also considered part of the deli counter apparently making a salad at the salad bar a prepared food (even though you prepared it _yourself_ instead of purchasing all items separately).

A blatant lie on page 3, "Who would pay the meals tax? Commuters, travelers and tourists who pass through Fairfax County on a daily basis. County residents who choose to dine out."

Buying potato salad from the deli counter is not dining out.

Regressives Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought that the 'progressive' libs hated
> regressive taxes like this?
>
> I guess when it comes down to it for them any tax
> is better than no tax even if it is regressive.


Not when it means more money coming in.

careful with that tax, Sharon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One problem is County executive Ed Long, who says people should be
> willing to pay higher taxes for fewer services.

This is the real problem. It strains credulity to argue that we NEED more tax revenue at a time when revenues would have been rising even without a rate increase, and even with those rising revenues plus the rate increase the level of services many taxpayers are receiving from the County is going down. If you tell people you will receive less from the government tomorrow than you received yesterday, even with a tax increase, their response will naturally and correctly be "THEN LET ME KEEP THE ADDITIONAL MONEY".

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't usually get to write on local issues, so
> it was a nice change of pace. Enjoy.

Too bad it's just another worthless rehashed piece of mindless crap. Bogus claims about taxes, failure to understand county and FCPS funding history and current shortfalls, dishonest implications concerning meals tax impacts, and of course, no ideas at all about how revenues might be patched up instead. This piece is just more mindless stupid bullshit. You should be ashamed of it. You try to portray yourself as some sort of high-minded high-standards dude around here, but you are further down in the fucking gutter than Karl Rove. No soup for you on this one, asshole.

these are tourists Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why don't they raise the hotel tax if tourists are
> the target for the tax?

The hotels tax is already at 6% and Vienna and Herndon add onto that. While most other area jurisdictions already have one, there presently is no country tax on meals, thus providing an obvious (except to kneejerk anti-tax dumbfucks) way to increase revenue and further diversify the tax base all at the same time.

oh nose Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> can't do that who would fund the politicians
> its an open secret developers run this county

Wake up, dumbfuck. The County is run to address the needs and interests of those who live and work here. With expanding business and residential populations, developers are an absolute NECESSITY in the County, now and into the indefinite future. And just like any other significant County constituency, their needs and interests are fully deserving of being heard, weighed, and where warranted acted on and addressed. The only group that we as a County have any legitimate reason to shove aside is stupid dumbshits. Those assholes have absolutely nothing to offer or contribute at all and should be routinely reviled, rejected, and ridiculed.

careful with that tax, Sharon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pretty soon people are going to be fed up with all
> of Fairfax' tax increases. One problem is County
> executive Ed Long, who says people should be
> willing to pay higher taxes for fewer services.
> One less service, how about the office of the
> County executive? It may just be time for these
> people to go!

See? There's a total assholes with absolutely nothing to offer or contribute at all right now. Like all the other ones, he should be routinely reviled, rejected, and ridiculed. Go fuck yourself, you useless moron.

Hotel tax rate in DC is 14.5%. Most places I have been are at least 10%. Fairfax is under at 6%.

I would rather see the personal property tax back in full force. It is a great tax because it hits harder on the rich folks.
Fairfax city already has a meals tax I think.

Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The tourist basis for the meals tax will not be
> true here. That's just a selling point that
> proponents have put out related to the fire games
> thing as a way to justify it on the basis of
> potential money not captured. Locals will end up
> paying the bulk of this tax.

The Police/Fire Games thing is a one-time deal, moron. Obviously, it would be good to have the tax in place by that time, as it would capture some extra revenue from the modest blip in tourism that those games will briefly bring. But business and recreational tourism are among the County's major and growing industries. You might eat out a couple of times a month while minding every penny. These out-of-town drop-in folks eat out every morning, noon, and night and are known to splurge. The meals tax is an easy way to tap into some dependable revenue while staying out of the pockets of local taxpayers. The only local residents who would bear any significant burden at all are those who are wealthy enough to eat out often at our finer upscale dining spots, and those folks are wealthy enough to simply shake it off. Bogus claims about declining customers and worsening tips have not troubled Vienna, Falls Church, Herndon or any other nearby jurisdiction with a meals tax. It just doesn't happen. People dine out there and they tip there as they always have.

Meanwhile, some of you are apparently incapable of dealing with large numbers and so say some simply asinine things. The plain fact of the matter is that the County is seriously underfunded at the present time, thanks in no small part to its having put itself on less than a starvation diet during the Great Recession in hopes of sparing financially troubled households from the double-whammy burdens of significant tax increases. Recovery from the great economic calamity has been slow but has made progress to the point where the time has come to start paying the piper once again. The meals tax is a very good way to do that. If you think not, beat old dumbass Brian to the punch and actually propose an alternative. I'd love to see that sort of thing but don't at all expect to.

E4k69 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> A blatant lie on page 3, "Who would pay the meals
> tax? Commuters, travelers and tourists who pass
> through Fairfax County on a daily basis. County
> residents who choose to dine out."
>
> Buying potato salad from the deli counter is not
> dining out.


The also highlight the in-commuter/tourist side throughout and focus the revenue analysis on it, omitting any direct discussion of what it will cost local residents beyond noting an estimate that 'outsiders' generate somewhere between 26 and 31 percent of meals spending.

So, more clearly stated using their own numbers:

$88 million projected.
$23.3 million projected based on their (very simplistic) tourist revenue estimate.
----------------------
$64.7 million to be paid by local residents and daily 'in-commuters.'

They don't provide any direct revenue projections for in-commuters beyond a simple 350K/83,439 net daily estimate of the number. That's taken from a "Community Profile" on the State's Workforce Connection site. Which is based on US Census data extracted using some unstated criteria from the LODES database here: https://explore.data.gov/Labor-Force-Employment-and-Earnings/LEHD-Origin-Destination-Employment-Statistics-LODE/zvvq-y3uj

You could try to tease out the net in-commuter contribution relative to whatever you want to use as a local estimate out of the total ~1 million county population. But without more targeted data and analysis you're getting into some very sketchy territory making assumptions as far as numbers of meals, dollar values, meals in/out, brought/bought, frequency, etc., etc., among the various groups.

Bottom line, any way that you slice it I'd expect that locals likely will end up paying at least half or likely more of the total so the almost entire focus and representation of this as a tourist- and commuter-paid tax is disingenuous.

>hits harder on the rich folks

Easily avoided by rich folks. Form an LLC, lease your vehicle back to yourself. My LLC never makes a profit. No taxes.

E4k69 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Buying potato salad from the deli counter is not
> dining out.

Go fuck yourself, moron. First of all, you are inventing details for a bill that hasn't even been studied yet, much less actually drafted, debated, and amended, and second of all, if you couldn't afford a 4% tax on an 89-cent serving of potato salad, you have much much bigger problems to be concerned about, one of which is being a gigantic ignorant flying fucking asshole.

Stupid Fucking Asshole Alert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> The Police/Fire Games thing is a one-time deal,
> moron.


When did I say that it wasn't dumbshit?

It's being used as a primary selling point for the tax and the push to get it done now.

Bill.N. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is the real problem. It strains credulity to
> argue that we NEED more tax revenue at a time when
> revenues would have been rising even without a
> rate increase, and even with those rising revenues
> plus the rate increase the level of services many
> taxpayers are receiving from the County is going
> down. If you tell people you will receive less
> from the government tomorrow than you received
> yesterday, even with a tax increase, their
> response will naturally and correctly be "THEN LET
> ME KEEP THE ADDITIONAL MONEY".

Taxes were foregone and services were cut by the County in hunkering down during the ridiculous Great Recession that mindless fucking know-nothing right-wing economic cluster-fuckers drove us off a cliff into. That storm has passed, but the effects of it have not. Services need to be restored. the wounded (e.g., teachers) need to be made whole, and a solid foundation for the continuing County growth that is coming no matter what we do needs to be restored.

Your dumbass calls are goober-level short-sighted miserly stupidity that flies in the face of giant warnings over "penny wise and pound foolish". If you think you want to dabble in economics, go fucking learn something about it before you open your uninformed mouth and make a complete asshole of yourself. That's all you have accomplished here.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/caab/pdf/state-of-the-poor-letter.pdf


"There were an estimated 25,962 more people living in poverty in 2011 compared to 2008, an increase of 54%. The number of children in poverty grew at an even faster rate, increasing by 65% since 2008. This growth mirrors the increase we have seen in the size of Fairfax County’s average monthly public assistance caseload, which increased by 50% between FY 2008 and FY 2011, from 51,939 to 78,279."



Taxes will go higher if this keeps up. We need to create jobs (that pay).

we could get more Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hotel tax rate in DC is 14.5%. Most places I have
> been are at least 10%. Fairfax is under at 6%.

Why is that, dumbfuck? What is the price-elasticity of demand for rooms in this area? How does it compare to that for food away from home? You talk like you know, so tell us about it.

Total Assholes Abound Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> E4k69 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Buying potato salad from the deli counter is
> not
> > dining out.
>
> Go fuck yourself, moron. First of all, you are
> inventing details for a bill that hasn't even been
> studied yet, much less actually drafted, debated,
> and amended, and second of all, if you couldn't
> afford a 4% tax on an 89-cent serving of potato
> salad, you have much much bigger problems to be
> concerned about, one of which is being a gigantic
> ignorant flying fucking asshole.


And his point was relative to the wording in the white paper re "County residents who choose to dine out," not re the economic impact. It's not just those who "dine out." At least as now outlined, it would apply to prepared, ready-to-eat foods as stated in the white paper:

"Does not apply to groceries - grocery and convenience stores only collect the tax on ready to eat foods - such as the deli or salad bar."

Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When did I say that it wasn't dumbshit? It's being
> used as a primary selling point for the tax and
> the push to get it done now.

Obviously even to a dull-brained fucktard one would think, if we are going to do the meals tax, it would be best to have it in place in advance of the Police/Fire Games so that those who comprise the small surge in tourism that the Games will in fact bring can toss a few pennies into the pot. That's the extent of it. Your goober-fuck analysis of it as some sort of politico-slickster attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes was entirely worthless fucktard babbling.

Consuela Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about a meals tax only on all the restaurants
> catering to the illegal locusts. That way is more
> like a user fee with those deriving the benefits
> chipping in.

Now that makes sense! ...in some way.

Get a Clue, Loser Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > When did I say that it wasn't dumbshit? It's
> being
> > used as a primary selling point for the tax and
>
> > the push to get it done now.
>
> Obviously even to a dull-brained fucktard one
> would think, if we are going to do the meals tax,
> it would be best to have it in place in advance of
> the Police/Fire Games so that those who comprise
> the small surge in tourism that the Games will in
> fact bring can toss a few pennies into the pot.
> That's the extent of it. Your goober-fuck
> analysis of it as some sort of politico-slickster
> attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes was
> entirely worthless fucktard babbling.


Once again, when did I say otherwise fucknuts? lol

It's being used as a primary justification to sell the tax along the same overall somebody else will pay for basis. Whether having the tax in place would be a good or bad thing is independent of that. The "pennies in the pot" generated will represent a very small percentage of the overall taxes paid under the tax.

Futher Asshole Sighting Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I don't usually get to write on local issues,
> so
> > it was a nice change of pace. Enjoy.
>
> Too bad it's just another worthless rehashed piece
> of mindless crap. Bogus claims about taxes,
> failure to understand county and FCPS funding
> history and current shortfalls, dishonest
> implications concerning meals tax impacts, and of
> course, no ideas at all about how revenues might
> be patched up instead. This piece is just more
> mindless stupid bullshit. You should be ashamed
> of it. You try to portray yourself as some sort
> of high-minded high-standards dude around here,
> but you are further down in the fucking gutter
> than Karl Rove. No soup for you on this one,
> asshole.

What bogus claims about taxes?

I didn't discuss county and FCPS funding history and current "shortfalls," and I didn't discuss any impacts of the meals tax. I simply said now was not the time to implement a meals tax after we've already had significant tax increases on everybody in Fairfax at the federal, state and local levels.

And I didn't discuss how revenues could be patched up because I don't believe they need to be. Our budget is balanced, and the schools have the funding they need and are making the cuts necessary to meet their expected gap, if it actually even exists other than on paper.

If you want to trash the article, read it next time. Leave the copy pasta complaining for Gerrymanderer.

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Futher Asshole Sighting Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I don't usually get to write on local issues,
> > so
> > > it was a nice change of pace. Enjoy.
> >
> > Too bad it's just another worthless rehashed
> piece
> > of mindless crap. Bogus claims about taxes,
> > failure to understand county and FCPS funding
> > history and current shortfalls, dishonest
> > implications concerning meals tax impacts, and
> of
> > course, no ideas at all about how revenues
> might
> > be patched up instead. This piece is just more
> > mindless stupid bullshit. You should be
> ashamed
> > of it. You try to portray yourself as some
> sort
> > of high-minded high-standards dude around here,
> > but you are further down in the fucking gutter
> > than Karl Rove. No soup for you on this one,
> > asshole.
>
> What bogus claims about taxes?
>
> I didn't discuss county and FCPS funding history
> and current "shortfalls," and I didn't discuss any
> impacts of the meals tax. I simply said now was
> not the time to implement a meals tax after we've
> already had significant tax increases on everybody
> in Fairfax at the federal, state and local levels.
>
>
> And I didn't discuss how revenues could be patched
> up because I don't believe they need to be. Our
> budget is balanced, and the schools have the
> funding they need and are making the cuts
> necessary to meet their expected gap, if it
> actually even exists other than on paper.
>
> If you want to trash the article, read it next
> time. Leave the copy pasta complaining for
> Gerrymanderer.


I'm a democrat, but asshole sighting is just a troll trying to make other democrats look bad. Just ignore him Brian. Thanks for posting the article!

Stupid Fucking Asshole Alert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The tourist basis for the meals tax will not be
> > true here. That's just a selling point that
> > proponents have put out related to the fire
> games
> > thing as a way to justify it on the basis of
> > potential money not captured. Locals will end
> up
> > paying the bulk of this tax.
>
> The Police/Fire Games thing is a one-time deal,
> moron. Obviously, it would be good to have the
> tax in place by that time, as it would capture
> some extra revenue from the modest blip in tourism
> that those games will briefly bring. But business
> and recreational tourism are among the County's
> major and growing industries. You might eat out a
> couple of times a month while minding every penny.
> These out-of-town drop-in folks eat out every
> morning, noon, and night and are known to splurge.
> The meals tax is an easy way to tap into some
> dependable revenue while staying out of the
> pockets of local taxpayers. The only local
> residents who would bear any significant burden at
> all are those who are wealthy enough to eat out
> often at our finer upscale dining spots, and those
> folks are wealthy enough to simply shake it off.
> Bogus claims about declining customers and
> worsening tips have not troubled Vienna, Falls
> Church, Herndon or any other nearby jurisdiction
> with a meals tax. It just doesn't happen. People
> dine out there and they tip there as they always
> have.
>
> Meanwhile, some of you are apparently incapable of
> dealing with large numbers and so say some simply
> asinine things. The plain fact of the matter is
> that the County is seriously underfunded at the
> present time, thanks in no small part to its
> having put itself on less than a starvation diet
> during the Great Recession in hopes of sparing
> financially troubled households from the
> double-whammy burdens of significant tax
> increases. Recovery from the great economic
> calamity has been slow but has made progress to
> the point where the time has come to start paying
> the piper once again. The meals tax is a very
> good way to do that. If you think not, beat old
> dumbass Brian to the punch and actually propose an
> alternative. I'd love to see that sort of thing
> but don't at all expect to.

You are just about as stupid as stupid gets. Just because someone has more money than you, that means they have to pay for your kids school? Hey! Maybe they earned that money and it belongs to them. Did you ever think of that you mindless zombie. Why don't you go stick your brown nose where it goes and shut your mouth since you don't have a brain to think with.

Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And his point was relative to the wording in the
> white paper re "County residents who choose to
> dine out," not re the economic impact.

The wording REFERS TO the economic impact, bozo. The burden of the tax here would fall on tourists and locals who can afford to dine out often, just as it does in every other jurisdiction that levies a meals tax which as you know is quite a lot of them.

> It's not just those who "dine out." At least as now
> outlined, it would apply to prepared, ready-to-eat
> foods as stated in the white paper:

Pay close attention. Picking up a sandwich or salad at a grocery store or food cart is "dining out". It is food away from home. That's what dining out means. Linen table cloths are not a requirement. The Board has meanwhile requested that a task force evaluate the idea of a meals tax. The mission of the task force is to consider and then prepare a report for the Board that considers high-order issues. Things like whether to proceed toward a meals tax referendum at all, in what year any such referendum should be put on the ballot, and whether it should earmark any resulting revenues to specific purposes. There is no construct for an actual tax yet written, introduced, debated, amended, or voted upon. The many White Papers (the most recent one being last month that you apparently missed) are FYI backgrounder reports about how the tax might work here and how similar taxes do work in some of those many other meals-taxing jurisdictions. The rate and scope of any Fairfax tax have not yet been so much as suggested, much less decided upon. Your claims are transparently vapid and irrelevant red herrings.

How about putting the whole County budget on the ballot for a referendum? Then we'll see how much support there really is for this stuff!

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I didn't discuss county and FCPS funding history
> and current "shortfalls," and I didn't discuss any
> impacts of the meals tax. I simply said now was
> not the time to implement a meals tax after we've
> already had significant tax increases on everybody
> in Fairfax at the federal, state and local levels.

How fucking dumb are you? Claiming that "now is not the time to implement a meals tax" FUCKING IS a statement concerning its impacts. How completely dishonest do you intend to be here? That would pretty painly seem to be really really dishonest, since there have in fact been no significant increases in federal or state taxes, and the modest increase in County real estate taxes comes against a backdrop (that you totally ignored) of steady annual declines that finally reached a low point in 2013. That is the only year that prevents current real property taxes paid by a typical County household from being at record 21st century lows. You either didn't know that or were lying through your teeth. No credit either way.

> And I didn't discuss how revenues could be patched
> up because I don't believe they need to be.

That would make you just another goober TEA Party asshole. Got it.

> Our budget is balanced, and the schools have the
> funding they need and are making the cuts
> necessary to meet their expected gap, if it
> actually even exists other than on paper.

Just plain stupid. The budget is always balanced, and schools are being gouged to fund other more pressing short-term priorities. Was FCPS for instance forced to increase class sizes across the board yet again this year? Did they also have to renege on promised token catch-up pay raises for teachers by postponing even those by a further six months? What are the long-term implications for the County of penny-pinching such important resources? Are you fiscal asshats simply blind to the economics here? Go read The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg. Doesn't sound like you seen that before. It's not a tough read, but there are valuable lessons there to be learned. Or just heed the words of our County Executive...

"I said it last year and I will say it again, our residents and businesses are attracted to and remain in Fairfax County because of what we have to offer. What we have to offer is incredible: an outstanding school system; a robust workforce essential in attracting and retaining our businesses; a very safe community due to our outstanding public safety workforce; a community that is environmentally conscious; a safety net to catch those most in need; great amenities such as libraries and parks; [and] a strong financially managed County..."

If you think that's all just self-serving mumbo-jumbo, you are stupider than I thought.

> If you want to trash the article, read it next
> time. Leave the copy pasta complaining for
> Gerrymanderer.

I read the article. It was worthless and deliberately dishonest and deceptive piece of trash. As I said earlier, it is a work to be ashamed of.

asshole sighting is a TROLL! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm a democrat, but asshole sighting is just a
> troll trying to make other democrats look bad.
> Just ignore him Brian. Thanks for posting the
> article!

Very touching that you would seek to ride to Brian's rescue like that, but the only thing you have right is that he is in desperate need of help. It won't be coming from you, however.

thinkforyourselfdoedoe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are just about as stupid as stupid gets.

Let me guess -- you were captain of the debate team.

> Just because someone has more money than you, that
> means they have to pay for your kids school? Hey!
> Maybe they earned that money and it belongs to
> them. Did you ever think of that you mindless
> zombie. Why don't you go stick your brown nose
> where it goes and shut your mouth since you don't
> have a brain to think with.

Bonjour, loser. I'm retired and I make more money than you. Lots more. And I pay lots of taxes on my seven-figure home and property that you could only dream of. Go watch FOX News or something, you goober moron.

Shut up and pay your taxes you fucking peasants. You will accept any and all tax increases we come up with. Eat cake.

Asshole Grows and Grows Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > And his point was relative to the wording in
> the
> > white paper re "County residents who choose to
> > dine out," not re the economic impact.
>
> The wording REFERS TO the economic impact, bozo.
> The burden of the tax here would fall on tourists
> and locals who can afford to dine out often, just
> as it does in every other jurisdiction that levies
> a meals tax which as you know is quite a lot of
> them.

He was talking about the specific wording in a specific text balloon in the white paper. As you even seem to recognize below as far as what constitutes "dining out."


>
> > It's not just those who "dine out." At least as
> now
> > outlined, it would apply to prepared,
> ready-to-eat
> > foods as stated in the white paper:
>
> Pay close attention. Picking up a sandwich or
> salad at a grocery store or food cart is "dining
> out". It is food away from home. That's what
> dining out means. Linen table cloths are not a
> requirement. The Board has meanwhile requested
> that a task force evaluate the idea of a meals
> tax. The mission of the task force is to consider
> and then prepare a report for the Board that
> considers high-order issues. Things like whether
> to proceed toward a meals tax referendum at all,
> in what year any such referendum should be put on
> the ballot, and whether it should earmark any
> resulting revenues to specific purposes. There is
> no construct for an actual tax yet written,
> introduced, debated, amended, or voted upon. The
> many White Papers (the most recent one being last
> month that you apparently missed) are FYI
> backgrounder reports about how the tax might work
> here and how similar taxes do work in some of
> those many other meals-taxing jurisdictions. The
> rate and scope of any Fairfax tax have not yet
> been so much as suggested, much less decided upon.
> Your claims are transparently vapid and
> irrelevant red herrings.


Pay closer attention. "Dine out" does not in all cases necessarily mean prepared foods not eaten in some establishment. Especially in the context of meals taxes where in some cases there may be differences in applicability and/or rates for sit-down meals versus take-out, hot prepared foods, etc.

Obviously it's not yet final; however, they absolutely have "so much as suggested" the rate and scope and overall outline for the tax. As is reflected in the white papers and other supporting materials. The study being done is not some completely unknown, blank-page analysis. The final result and details remain to be seen but it's not expected to vary much from that general outline.

Stupid Fucking Asshole Alert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> thinkforyourselfdoedoe Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You are just about as stupid as stupid gets.
>
> Let me guess -- you were captain of the debate
> team.
>
> > Just because someone has more money than you,
> that
> > means they have to pay for your kids school?
> Hey!
> > Maybe they earned that money and it belongs to
> > them. Did you ever think of that you mindless
> > zombie. Why don't you go stick your brown nose
> > where it goes and shut your mouth since you
> don't
> > have a brain to think with.
>
> Bonjour, loser. I'm retired and I make more money
> than you. Lots more. And I pay lots of taxes on
> my seven-figure home and property that you could
> only dream of. Go watch FOX News or something,
> you goober moron.


Still waiting for your bank statements to be posted. Lets also see your property tax bill on your seven figure home, broke ass nigga. Better yet since this is a local forum, you can show it to me in person.

revolutionary idea Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How about putting the whole County budget on the
> ballot for a referendum? Then we'll see how much
> support there really is for this stuff!

Government exists to act on the basis of your interests, NOT on the basis of your hideously fucked up stupid asshole no-brain opinions. Direct democracy is the worst form of government. That's why the founding fathers went to such lengths to insulate the actors in their new government from the vicissitudes of popular passions. They understood how easily dullards, rubes, and yahoos could be misled by silver-tongued demagogues and charlatans. So, they shut you out. Every so often you get to vote -- this person we picked out for you or that person we picked out for you. You are allowed no other input at all and certainly don't deserve any.

SharoomBullover Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shut up and pay your taxes you fucking peasants.
> You will accept any and all tax increases we come
> up with. Eat cake.

Enjoy your stay here! When will you be headed back to Dumbfuckville, pray tell?

No Account Asshole Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SharoomBullover Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Shut up and pay your taxes you fucking
> peasants.
> > You will accept any and all tax increases we
> come
> > up with. Eat cake.
>
> Enjoy your stay here! When will you be headed
> back to Dumbfuckville, pray tell?

We'll tax the Hell out of Dumbfuckville too.

I didn't take the time to read any of the posts before mine.

All I can say is that I was born in the 60s, lived my entire life in Fairfax, and can't understand why the sales tax went from 4% to 6%.

Now, a new meals tax.

How about cutting expenditures. That's what we need to do.

I will contribute my time, and my money, to any organization in Fairfax that will fight this new tax, and help to cut, even if but a little bit, our county government here in Fairfax.

Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> He was talking about the specific wording in a
> specific text balloon in the white paper.

There is not just one white paper, and no white paper is any sort of law.

> As you even seem to recognize below as far as what
> constitutes "dining out."

Both meals and food away from home are long-established concepts. The County may or may not ultimately propose a meals tax, and any provisions of it may or may not be in accord with either concept. Your use of entirely fictional and speculative meals tax terms is completely misleading and dishonest.

> Pay closer attention. "Dine out" does not in all
> cases necessarily mean prepared foods not eaten in
> some establishment. Especially in the context of
> meals taxes where in some cases there may be
> differences in applicability and/or rates for
> sit-down meals versus take-out, hot prepared
> foods, etc.

Welcome back from the Dark Side, loser.

> Obviously it's not yet final...

Then why have you dishonestly written as if it were? Kind of suggests that you're an asshole or something.

> ...however, they absolutely have "so much as suggested"
> the rate and scope and overall outline for the tax.
> As is reflected in the white papers and other supporting
> materials.

If you had read them more carefully, you might have remembered that these various white papers note the STATE MANDATED LIMIT of 4% and then estimate projected revenues on a per-percentage-point basis. None of this is or is intended to be policy. It is all background for the information of policy-makers.

> The study being done is not some completely unknown,
> blank-page analysis. The final result and details remain
> to be seen but it's not expected to vary much from that
> general outline.

Not expected by whom? Some internet dork-fuck who has already made one inglorious mistake after another? What a joke. You're nowhere near being in the business of providing assurances of anything. The Board is considering whether and on what terms it might ultimately consider putting an as yet unwritten meals tax proposal on some yet-to-be-determined future ballot as state law requires. Anything that you have said beyond that was manufactured hogwash.

asshole sighting = broke nig Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Still waiting for your bank statements to be
> posted. Lets also see your property tax bill on
> your seven figure home, broke ass nigga. Better
> yet since this is a local forum, you can show it
> to me in person.

Look up your ass. Maybe I kicked them up there by mistake, you stupid dipshit. Any moron can photoshop such documents. I'm not even going to waste the little time it would take to prove the point. It's obvious. But you're just plain too fucking stupid to grasp the obvious.

SharoomBullover Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We'll tax the Hell out of Dumbfuckville too.

Fine. Just go back there. Maybe you could pave the road or something.

ceKpe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> All I can say is that I was born in the 60s, lived
> my entire life in Fairfax, and can't understand
> why the sales tax went from 4% to 6%.

How long have you been away?

-- Sales and General Use taxes:
Virginia; 4.3%
Fairfax: 1%
Transportation: 0.7%

-- Food for Home Consumption:
Virginia: 1.5%
Fairfax: 1%

> Now, a new meals tax.

No, not yet

> How about cutting expenditures. That's what we
> need to do.

Already done on account of the Great Recession. To go further in that entirely wrong direction, we will have to start kicking people out, telling businesses to move away, closing schools, parks, and libraries, and generally just letting the county go to seed. Sound like an overstatement? Go read the fucking budget and report back.

> I will contribute my time, and my money, to any
> organization in Fairfax that will fight this new
> tax, and help to cut, even if but a little bit,
> our county government here in Fairfax.

Contact the NOVA Coalition of Hopeless Asshats and Dumbfucks. They're right with you on all this.

It's my tax money,so shut the fuck up about how I spend it peasant.

We must raise the food tax, For the Children, For the Children.

Further Asshole Sighting Wrote:

> How fucking dumb are you? Claiming that "now is
> not the time to implement a meals tax" FUCKING IS
> a statement concerning its impacts. How
> completely dishonest do you intend to be here?
> That would pretty painly seem to be really really
> dishonest, since there have in fact been no
> significant increases in federal or state taxes,
> and the modest increase in County real estate
> taxes comes against a backdrop (that you totally
> ignored) of steady annual declines that finally
> reached a low point in 2013. That is the only
> year that prevents current real property taxes
> paid by a typical County household from being at
> record 21st century lows. You either didn't know
> that or were lying through your teeth. No credit
> either way.

If I had said "if we implement a meals tax, it will reduce the number of residents eating out, it will harm tourism, and it will have a chilling effect on job growth" then I would have been making a statement regarding potential impacts. (I don't believe any of those are true, either).

Saying "now is not the time" to raise taxes means what it says - now isn't the time.

There have been significant increases in federal and state taxes over the last two years. With the end of the payroll tax holiday, real take home pay was reduced. Obamacare's taxes on health insurance plans have begun to trickle down to consumers, and the individual mandate penalty of either $95 or 1% of their income (whichever is higher) kicks in this year. Last year saw increases in the top tax bracket (which hits a number of Fairfax families) and capital gains tax increases. The estate tax also went back into effect. On the state level, you saw the transportation tax increase, which raised sales taxes in Northern Virginia from 5% to 5.3% and those will go up to 6% when the Federal government fails to implement a national internet purchases tax.

Overall revenue in the County has increased since 2008, from around $3.2 billion to $3.6 billion in the latest advertised budget. Even during the worst years of the recession, when our revenue was flat, it was still around $3.2-3.3 billion.

> That would make you just another goober TEA Party
> asshole. Got it.

Um, okay. They hate me for being a moderate, but okay.

> Just plain stupid. The budget is always balanced,
> and schools are being gouged to fund other more
> pressing short-term priorities. Was FCPS for
> instance forced to increase class sizes across the
> board yet again this year? Did they also have to
> renege on promised token catch-up pay raises for
> teachers by postponing even those by a further six
> months? What are the long-term implications for
> the County of penny-pinching such important
> resources? Are you fiscal asshats simply blind to
> the economics here? Go read The Goose That Laid
> the Golden Egg. Doesn't sound like you seen that
> before. It's not a tough read, but there are
> valuable lessons there to be learned. Or just
> heed the words of our County Executive...

No, it's not plain stupid. I don't trust a word that comes out of the schools when it comes to their budgeting. The School Board does not have an independent auditor or anybody that can provide them with data that isn't slanted towards whatever picture the Administration paints for them. Increasing classes sizes and other steps that infuriate parents are political moves designed to put pressure on the Board of Supervisors for a larger transfer.

The Teachers are still receiving their step increases and the like, so it's not as if they're in the same position as County employees, some of whom are seeing their first actual pay raises in years this year.

> "I said it last year and I will say it again, our
> residents and businesses are attracted to and
> remain in Fairfax County because of what we have
> to offer. What we have to offer is incredible: an
> outstanding school system; a robust workforce
> essential in attracting and retaining our
> businesses; a very safe community due to our
> outstanding public safety workforce; a community
> that is environmentally conscious; a safety net to
> catch those most in need; great amenities such as
> libraries and parks; [and] a strong financially
> managed County..."
>
> If you think that's all just self-serving
> mumbo-jumbo, you are stupider than I thought.

I agree with Ed. What does that have to do with the Meals Tax?

> I read the article. It was worthless and
> deliberately dishonest and deceptive piece of
> trash. As I said earlier, it is a work to be
> ashamed of.

There's nothing deceptive or dishonest in there.

But hey, say fuck a few more times and call anyone who disagrees with you stupid - I'm sure that will convince us all.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/07/2014 06:39PM by BrianSchoeneman.

Asshole Falling Apart Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > He was talking about the specific wording in a
> > specific text balloon in the white paper.
>
> There is not just one white paper, and no white
> paper is any sort of law.



There is the "white paper" which the BOS has released to the public on the county web site which it calls a "white paper" which is where the referenced comment appears on page 3:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/mealstax/meals-tax-white-paper-may-2014.pdf

Nobody said that it was a law. You were the one who was trying to turn a simple comment on the wording into more than it was you bullshit breathing blowhard.


>
> > As you even seem to recognize below as far as
> what
> > constitutes "dining out."
>
> Both meals and food away from home are
> long-established concepts. The County may or may
> not ultimately propose a meals tax, and any
> provisions of it may or may not be in accord with
> either concept. Your use of entirely fictional
> and speculative meals tax terms is completely
> misleading and dishonest.
>
> > Pay closer attention. "Dine out" does not in
> all
> > cases necessarily mean prepared foods not eaten
> in
> > some establishment. Especially in the context
> of
> > meals taxes where in some cases there may be
> > differences in applicability and/or rates for
> > sit-down meals versus take-out, hot prepared
> > foods, etc.
>
> Welcome back from the Dark Side, loser.
>

You're also the one who was claiming that there's some universally accepted definition of what "dine out" means, not me dumbshit. That's not the case and especially not the case as it applies to meals taxes.


> > Obviously it's not yet final...
>
> Then why have you dishonestly written as if it
> were? Kind of suggests that you're an asshole or
> something.
>

Nobody did shitforbrains. Everyone understands that it's an outline at this point and that is what's being discussed. The only one who seems to be confused by that is you. Pedal faster and try to keep up with the rest of the group.


> > ...however, they absolutely have "so much as
> suggested"
> > the rate and scope and overall outline for the
> tax.
> > As is reflected in the white papers and other
> supporting
> > materials.
>
> If you had read them more carefully, you might
> have remembered that these various white papers
> note the STATE MANDATED LIMIT of 4% and then
> estimate projected revenues on a
> per-percentage-point basis. None of this is or is
> intended to be policy. It is all background for
> the information of policy-makers.


The 'white paper' reflects the general outline of what's being considered. It is what's been made available to the public. Nobody's claimed that it's anything more than that. They present the estimated revenue numbers on the basis of the 4% number, so that's what's being discussed. They present the overall structure of what the tax would be and what it would apply to, so that's what's being discussed. Everyone understands that the details of what eventually may be proposed may change.


>
> > The study being done is not some completely
> unknown,
> > blank-page analysis. The final result and
> details remain
> > to be seen but it's not expected to vary much
> from that
> > general outline.
>
> Not expected by whom? Some internet dork-fuck who
> has already made one inglorious mistake after
> another? What a joke. You're nowhere near being
> in the business of providing assurances of
> anything. The Board is considering whether and on
> what terms it might ultimately consider putting an
> as yet unwritten meals tax proposal on some
> yet-to-be-determined future ballot as state law
> requires. Anything that you have said beyond that
> was manufactured hogwash.


What do you think that the white paper represents? Just some random fairy tale that's independent of what's being considered? lmao Fucktard.

Part of the attraction of a meals tax is that "you can avoid the tax -- don't eat out". But that is a lie (yes, it's a white lie) to get public support behind the legislation. But when you look at the fine print, you can't really avoid this tax because of it's pervasive nature. Taxing all prepared foods is ridiculous because their are economies of scale associated with producing certain items that I as a lone consumer cannot take advantage of.

And don't forget, after institution of the meals tax, it will be necessary to create some new positions in the commissioner's office to administrate the tax and decide what is and isn't to be taxed -- Job creation!

And lastly, if revenue is increasing due to the end of the great recession, why do we suddenly need to pay more taxes? To catch up the monies lost during the recession? If so, they why isn't tax being proposed as a _temporary_ tax instead of a permanent revenue stream?

I need to include these so people take me seriously: FUCK ASSHOLE TARDZ

I for one want to see serious cuts before even thinking about a new tax. And don't forget on the tails of this is the school board request for their own taxing authority!

BrianSchoeneman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I had said "if we implement a meals tax...

Grow up, Brian. You wrote an unsourced unsupportable right-wing hit piece full of schlock, squish, and smarmy innuendo because a "conservative" website would publish it for you. Hardly the first time you've done that. Like many of the others, this one was worthless vanity-journal level tripe.

> Saying "now is not the time" to raise taxes means
> what it says - now isn't the time.

Your string-pullers don't allow as how there IS any such time. Your claim does not distinguish "now" from any other point in history.

> There have been significant increases in federal
> and state taxes over the last two years. With the
> end of the payroll tax holiday, real take home pay
> was reduced...

No, there have not. The payroll tax holiday (you go back to work after a holiday, you know) was a temporary emergency measure enacted to replace the prior temporary emergency measure that Republicans refused to support because it didn't help rich people enough. Like THEY needed the help. And every dime of that uncollected payroll tax was made up to SS et al. simply by cutting checks directly from the Treasury General Fund.

> Obamacare's taxes on health insurance plans have begun
> to trickle down to consumers...

The tanning tax? Cadillac plans? Try again, goober.

> ...and the individual mandate penalty of either $95
> or 1% of their income (whichever is higher) kicks in
> this year.

So avoid it by visiting an exchange and purchasing coverage. The days of free-loading are over. Everybody pays something. Even if it's just the entirely TRIVIAL penalty.

> Last year saw increases in the top tax
> bracket (which hits a number of Fairfax families)
> and capital gains tax increases. The estate tax
> also went back into effect.

Go ahead, Brian. Document the extent of your naked smarminess here by posting the actual income levels you have to have in order to lose as much as one cent to those taxes. Be sure along the way to distinguish between gross income, adjusted gross income, and taxable income.

> On the state level, you saw the transportation tax increase,
> which raised sales taxes in Northern Virginia from 5% to
> 5.3% and those will go up to 6% when the Federal government
> fails to implement a national internet purchases tax.

Crushing! No wait, it's peanuts. This is just more smarm and squish. The current impact of a conditional tax that may or may not go into effect at some point in the future is not significant. It is ZERO!

> Overall revenue in the County has increased since
> 2008, from around $3.2 billion to $3.6 billion in
> the latest advertised budget. Even during the
> worst years of the recession, when our revenue was
> flat, it was still around $3.2-3.3 billion.

Wrong numbers, Brian, and you know that full well. The county falls behind if nominal revenues remain flat. They HAVE to increase simply to tread water, and they have to increase by more than that to make up ground lost in the stupid Great Recession that your senseless right-wing buddies brought about. Tax burden on the typical County household is at a low level. Gaps in County funding are at a high level. Both of these will need to change or we will turn ourselves into Arkansas.

> Um, okay. They hate me for being a moderate, but okay.

More evidence of how disconnected from reality the TEA Party is.

> No, it's not plain stupid. I don't trust a word
> that comes out of the schools when it comes to
> their budgeting.

Of course you don't.

> Increasing classes sizes and other steps that
> infuriate parents are political moves designed to
> put pressure on the Board of Supervisors for a
> larger transfer.

No, goober. They were cuts reluctantly imposed because there was no funding that could be used to prevent them. Stupid claims like the one above simply convince more and more people that you are a total sham and phony.

> The Teachers are still receiving their step
> increases and the like, so it's not as if they're
> in the same position as County employees, some of
> whom are seeing their first actual pay raises in
> years this year.

Yes, others have sad stories to tell as well, but that does not excuse or cover up the fact that because of funding shortfalls, class sizes were indeed increased again this year and promised token catch-up pay raises for teachers were delayed by a further six months. All these other issues do is lengthen the list of reasons why revenue increases (such as would occur with a meals tax) are needed.

> I agree with Ed. What does that have to do with
> the Meals Tax?

The meals tax would raise revenues. Revenues are what pay for all the important things that Ed mentioned. Were you not aware of that connection?

> There's nothing deceptive or dishonest in there.

It's just as loaded with useless garbage as your posts here have been.

> But hey, say fuck a few more times and call anyone
> who disagrees with you stupid - I'm sure that will
> convince us all.

You get what you pay for, Brian. And all you have bought here is abuse. Your bad. Meanwhile, many of the people here who disagree with me are in fact stupid as evidenced by their various self-incriminating posts.

Big Mac and Fries Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is the "white paper" which the BOS has
> released to the public on the county web site
> which it calls a "white paper" which is where the
> referenced comment appears on page 3:

Go fuck yourself, asshole. I had to direct you to the current white paper update, and you grossly misrepresented the nature of that document and what it discusses. Of course, maybe you were just too stupid to have understood its nature to start out with.

> You're also the one who was claiming that there's
> some universally accepted definition of what "dine
> out" means...

No dipshit, Meals away from home and food away from home are established concepts. Your understandings are simply too shallow to have recognized that. If it eventually decides to propose a meals tax, the Board may or may not tailor its terms to either one of those concepts.

> Nobody did shitforbrains. Everyone understands
> that it's an outline at this point and that is
> what's being discussed.

It's not an outline. It's background information for policy-makers. You just don't understand how this process works, do you.

> The only one who seems to be confused by that is
> you. Pedal faster and try to keep up with the
> rest of the group.

Yeah, you go, goober. What a pathetic farce.

> Everyone understands that the details of what
> eventually may be proposed may change.

No, everyone doesn't. Particularly you.

> What do you think that the white paper represents?
> Just some random fairy tale that's independent of
> what's being considered? lmao Fucktard.

How many times have I already explained it. It is background information developed for the use of policy-makers.

Further Asshole Sighting Wrote:

> Grow up, Brian. You wrote an unsourced
> unsupportable right-wing hit piece full of
> schlock, squish, and smarmy innuendo because a
> "conservative" website would publish it for you.
> Hardly the first time you've done that. Like many
> of the others, this one was worthless
> vanity-journal level tripe.

I'm a co-owner of the site, but thanks for playing.

> Your string-pullers don't allow as how there IS
> any such time. Your claim does not distinguish
> "now" from any other point in history.

I supported McDonnell's transportation plan, because we needed the money for transportation and every other trick in the book had been tried. We needed the tax increases, and there was no other way to raise the levels of revenue we needed that was politically feasible.

If we hadn't seen property tax increases, we hadn't seen sales tax increases, and we coupled the Meals Tax with reductions in BPOL or other tax reductions, you could make a case for a Meal Tax. But because the first two happened and the third hasn't, now isn't the time.

> No, there have not. The payroll tax holiday (you
> go back to work after a holiday, you know) was a
> temporary emergency measure enacted to replace the
> prior temporary emergency measure that Republicans
> refused to support because it didn't help rich
> people enough. Like THEY needed the help. And
> every dime of that uncollected payroll tax was
> made up to SS et al. simply by cutting checks
> directly from the Treasury General Fund.

Ignoring the ignorant partisan nonsense, the bottom line here is that for two years, people were taking home more per paycheck. That ended last year. Thus, they had less take home pay. That's a hit to their pocketbooks.

> The tanning tax? Cadillac plans? Try again,
> goober.

Here's a link to the list of taxes in Obamacare that went up on individuals or small businesses.

http://www.atr.org/full-list-obamacare-tax-hikes-listed-a7010#ixzz1zTXuZUYl

That's not "nothing."

> So avoid it by visiting an exchange and purchasing
> coverage. The days of free-loading are over.
> Everybody pays something. Even if it's just the
> entirely TRIVIAL penalty.

1% of your income isn't trivial. And when it goes up to 2% next year or $395 dollars, or 2.5% and $695 in 2016, it's not going to be trivial. But regardless, this is yet another situation where people's take home pay is reduced because of government action.

> Go ahead, Brian. Document the extent of your
> naked smarminess here by posting the actual income
> levels you have to have in order to lose as much
> as one cent to those taxes. Be sure along the way
> to distinguish between gross income, adjusted
> gross income, and taxable income.

The top tax rate went back up 39.6% for families making $450,000 or more. 39.8% of Fairfax families (the largest percentage) make over $150,000 or more. I don't have data in front of me on the number making more than $450,000 but those folks got a tax increase.

As for distinguishing between tax terms, you can google that yourself.

> Crushing! No wait, it's peanuts. This is just
> more smarm and squish. The current impact of a
> conditional tax that may or may not go into effect
> at some point in the future is not significant.
> It is ZERO!

None of these tax increases alone are crushing. That's the point. They're incremental, but they're all hitting around the same time while wages continue to stagnate. You're asking Fairfax taxpayers to pay more while the money they're making hasn't gone up.

My point about the sales tax increase to 6% isn't that it has an impact now, it's that it's an automatic tax increase because there is no way the Federal government implements the internet sales tax before the deadline, so we're going to see an automatic sales tax hike again, and that needs to be factored into the decisionmaking process.

> Wrong numbers, Brian, and you know that full well.
> The county falls behind if nominal revenues
> remain flat. They HAVE to increase simply to
> tread water, and they have to increase by more
> than that to make up ground lost in the stupid
> Great Recession that your senseless right-wing
> buddies brought about. Tax burden on the typical
> County household is at a low level. Gaps in
> County funding are at a high level. Both of these
> will need to change or we will turn ourselves into
> Arkansas.

No, those are the right numbers, and you can pull them off the County website if you want to check my math. The county doesn't fall behind if nominal revenues remain flat because our budget is balanced and we can't spend more than we take in. It requires prioritization and cost savings where possible to keep growth to a minimum.

How about instead of demanding data from me, you actually provide some - justify your claim that the tax burden on the typical Fairfax household is at a low level. And where are the gaps, besides the school system's constant gap, in county funding?

> No, goober. They were cuts reluctantly imposed
> because there was no funding that could be used to
> prevent them. Stupid claims like the one above
> simply convince more and more people that you are
> a total sham and phony.

That's nonsense. It's about priorities. If you've got a shortfall, you prioritize what is most important. Apparently the schools didn't feel that class size was more important than step increases and other non-academic functions. That's why we elect a school board, to set those priorities. If they did a bad job, well, go run for School Board.

> Yes, others have sad stories to tell as well, but
> that does not excuse or cover up the fact that
> because of funding shortfalls, class sizes were
> indeed increased again this year and promised
> token catch-up pay raises for teachers were
> delayed by a further six months. All these other
> issues do is lengthen the list of reasons why
> revenue increases (such as would occur with a
> meals tax) are needed.

No, it lengthens the list of reasons why the School Board needs independent data in order to help them prioritize better.

> The meals tax would raise revenues. Revenues are
> what pay for all the important things that Ed
> mentioned. Were you not aware of that connection?

Taxes don't pay for an environmentally conscience community, nor do they pay for a workforce that attracts businesses. As for the rest, all of those things are covered. We are getting revenue increases, because the Supervisors just raised property taxes.

The Meals Tax is a regressive tax that hits every resident directly in their pocketbook, hits those who can afford it least the hardest, and doesn't raise a spectacular amount of revenue. It's just another tax on top of all of the other taxes folks pay and that are all inching higher because of the "it's not a big increase, and the rich can afford it" mentality that too many folks like you have around here.

If the Meals Tax referendum does end up on the ballot, we can see if your name calling will be successful in getting it passed.

Don't hold your breath.