Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
10% tax
Posted by:
HungryHippo
()
Date: January 28, 2015 10:19AM
Noticed im being taxed 10% at restaurants around the GMU Fairfax area. Does the fairfax city area have extra taxes or something? I mean 10% on food, really?
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
Bill.N.
()
Date: January 28, 2015 12:27PM
Virginia has a 6% sales tax. On top of this the City of Fairfax imposes a 4% meals tax. Other jurisdictions in the area and in other areas around the state also impose meals taxes, but so far Fairfax County does not.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
Tax Rate
()
Date: January 28, 2015 03:01PM
"but so far Fairfax County does not"
And hopefully stays that way.
And hopefully stays that way.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
regular guy
()
Date: January 28, 2015 04:53PM
Yup, I won't dine in Fairfax City because of the tax. And if the county adds a meals tax I won't dine here either.
"You are hurting the restaurants and not the County" doesn't work for me, I would essentially be punishing them for not lobbying hard enough against it if it is passed.
"You are hurting the restaurants and not the County" doesn't work for me, I would essentially be punishing them for not lobbying hard enough against it if it is passed.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
TjCEP
()
Date: January 28, 2015 04:56PM
Fairfax City is a real dump. Always has been. I grew up in Chantilly, and even we looked down on the rednecks in Fairfax.
Anyway, we need to undertake a movement to move the county seat out of Fairfax City, and into a nice new courthouse by the Fairfax County government center. Then Fairfax City can rely on auto dealerships for its revenue.
Anyway, we need to undertake a movement to move the county seat out of Fairfax City, and into a nice new courthouse by the Fairfax County government center. Then Fairfax City can rely on auto dealerships for its revenue.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
Tapawingo Rd
()
Date: January 28, 2015 05:08PM
TjCEP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fairfax City is a real dump. Always has been. I
> grew up in Chantilly, and even we looked down on
> the rednecks in Fairfax.
>
> Anyway, we need to undertake a movement to move
> the county seat out of Fairfax City, and into a
> nice new courthouse by the Fairfax County
> government center. Then Fairfax City can rely on
> auto dealerships for its revenue.
Kind of like Vienna relies on mattress store revenues.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fairfax City is a real dump. Always has been. I
> grew up in Chantilly, and even we looked down on
> the rednecks in Fairfax.
>
> Anyway, we need to undertake a movement to move
> the county seat out of Fairfax City, and into a
> nice new courthouse by the Fairfax County
> government center. Then Fairfax City can rely on
> auto dealerships for its revenue.
Kind of like Vienna relies on mattress store revenues.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
Honestly
()
Date: January 28, 2015 06:28PM
Fairfax Democratic politicians have tried to get the 4% meals tax in the county so they have more citizens' money to spend. So far commonsense has prevailed. Always got to watch them though.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
More dumb
()
Date: January 28, 2015 07:59PM
The County needs more revenues. There was a lot of bleeding during the Great Recession and there are lots of cuts and scrapes and bruises that need to be treated and healed, not the least of which are in our school system. You could just let the property tax rate rise to cover it all, but a 4% meals tax would raise about $90 million, pretty close to what would result from raising the property tax rate from $1.095 to $1.135. But where a property tax increase would impact on all country residents, an estimated 35-40% of revenues earned from a meals tax would come from people who don't live in the County -- commuters, tourists, business travelers, and so on. They all stop off to use and enjoy our local services and amenities, so how about we give them a chance to pitch in when it comes to paying for them as well. And the impact on County residents would primarily be among those who are wealthy enough to eat out often and at higher-end venues. Virtually every local jurisdiction but Clifton already has a meals tax. Herndon, Vienna, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, Alexandria, Arlington, and of course the District. Around the Commonwealth, all 39 cities, 49 counties, and more than 100 towns have a meals tax. Maybe Fairfax County should think about getting one too?
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
VkJCF
()
Date: January 28, 2015 08:19PM
Above are the usual arguments for a meals tax.
More money for schools: Much of the increased costs are the result of illegal immigration. That's not an attack on immigration or on the immigrants themselves. Just a fact. So taxpayers have elected representatives who've passed laws. Those laws are unenforced--by Republican and Democratic administrations--and now those taxpayers are being asked to pay more to cover the costs.
Tax not paid by Fairfax County residents: Of course most meals consumed in Fairfax County restaurants are consumed by Fairfax County residents.
Everyone else has a meals tax: If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?
More money for schools: Much of the increased costs are the result of illegal immigration. That's not an attack on immigration or on the immigrants themselves. Just a fact. So taxpayers have elected representatives who've passed laws. Those laws are unenforced--by Republican and Democratic administrations--and now those taxpayers are being asked to pay more to cover the costs.
Tax not paid by Fairfax County residents: Of course most meals consumed in Fairfax County restaurants are consumed by Fairfax County residents.
Everyone else has a meals tax: If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
More Dumb
()
Date: January 28, 2015 09:28PM
VkJCF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Above are the usual arguments for a meals tax.
And you refuted none of them. Nor any of the logic behind them.
> More money for schools: Much of the increased
> costs are the result of illegal immigration.
Meals tax proceeds would be available for any county purpose. We have needs in many areas, but schools are a large and important one. Public schools do not have any choice but to take in all who show up on the doorstep.
> Tax not paid by Fairfax County residents: Of
> course most meals consumed in Fairfax County
> restaurants are consumed by Fairfax County
> residents.
Yes, most of the people who paid the tax would be county residents and most of the money collected would come from those residents. The point was to compare "most" with a meals tax to "all" with property taxes. Also that the "most" part is progressive and comes disproportionately from our more wealthy residents who can best afford to pay. How bad is it to be third in line behind people from other places and local rich people?
> Everyone else has a meals tax: If everyone jumped
> off a bridge, would you?
Such a thing would certainly cause me to review my heretofore firm stand against jumping off bridges. But I envision no possible circumstances under which the situation you posit would ever come into being. It's pretty much just a stupid and pointless question. Which you probably realized from the outset.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Above are the usual arguments for a meals tax.
And you refuted none of them. Nor any of the logic behind them.
> More money for schools: Much of the increased
> costs are the result of illegal immigration.
Meals tax proceeds would be available for any county purpose. We have needs in many areas, but schools are a large and important one. Public schools do not have any choice but to take in all who show up on the doorstep.
> Tax not paid by Fairfax County residents: Of
> course most meals consumed in Fairfax County
> restaurants are consumed by Fairfax County
> residents.
Yes, most of the people who paid the tax would be county residents and most of the money collected would come from those residents. The point was to compare "most" with a meals tax to "all" with property taxes. Also that the "most" part is progressive and comes disproportionately from our more wealthy residents who can best afford to pay. How bad is it to be third in line behind people from other places and local rich people?
> Everyone else has a meals tax: If everyone jumped
> off a bridge, would you?
Such a thing would certainly cause me to review my heretofore firm stand against jumping off bridges. But I envision no possible circumstances under which the situation you posit would ever come into being. It's pretty much just a stupid and pointless question. Which you probably realized from the outset.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
newgatedenizen
()
Date: January 28, 2015 09:53PM
More dumb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The County needs more revenues.
That is an opinion.
-------------------------------------------------------
> The County needs more revenues.
That is an opinion.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
econfaxx
()
Date: January 29, 2015 07:27AM
It's a fact that when you increase the cost of an activity the level of that activity will decline. We want to grow business in Fairfax not slow it.
Liberals like to argue, well we can take some here, some there, some more here and it has no impact. It does.
Think about this. Is government as efficient as private enterprise? Of course not. So when we increase the size of this sector our society becomes less efficient and there's less to go around.
Liberals, like Obama, assume growing the economy does not matter, it's about economic justice. No economic theory is more damaging to those on the lower economic rungs because it is destructive to growth for everyone.
Liberals like to argue, well we can take some here, some there, some more here and it has no impact. It does.
Think about this. Is government as efficient as private enterprise? Of course not. So when we increase the size of this sector our society becomes less efficient and there's less to go around.
Liberals, like Obama, assume growing the economy does not matter, it's about economic justice. No economic theory is more damaging to those on the lower economic rungs because it is destructive to growth for everyone.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
regular guy
()
Date: January 29, 2015 09:19AM
More dumb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The County needs more revenues. There was a lot
> of bleeding during the Great Recession and there
> are lots of cuts and scrapes and bruises that need
> to be treated and healed, not the least of which
> are in our school system. You could just let the
> property tax rate rise to cover it all, but a 4%
> meals tax would raise about $90 million, pretty
> close to what would result from raising the
> property tax rate from $1.095 to $1.135.
If the legislation enabling the meals tax placed an absolute cap on the real estate tax rate at $1.095 as part of the plan then it would be something to consider. Otherwise what is to stop a further rise in real estate taxes (not property taxes, that is different) after a meals tax is in place?
Real estate taxes somewhat effect all county residents, but renters only indirectly. They mostly hurt middle class families trying to recover from the housing crisis.
-------------------------------------------------------
> The County needs more revenues. There was a lot
> of bleeding during the Great Recession and there
> are lots of cuts and scrapes and bruises that need
> to be treated and healed, not the least of which
> are in our school system. You could just let the
> property tax rate rise to cover it all, but a 4%
> meals tax would raise about $90 million, pretty
> close to what would result from raising the
> property tax rate from $1.095 to $1.135.
If the legislation enabling the meals tax placed an absolute cap on the real estate tax rate at $1.095 as part of the plan then it would be something to consider. Otherwise what is to stop a further rise in real estate taxes (not property taxes, that is different) after a meals tax is in place?
Real estate taxes somewhat effect all county residents, but renters only indirectly. They mostly hurt middle class families trying to recover from the housing crisis.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
More Dumb
()
Date: January 29, 2015 09:58AM
regular guy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the legislation enabling the meals tax placed
> an absolute cap on the real estate tax rate at
> $1.095 as part of the plan then it would be
> something to consider.
Land the spacecraft. That is obviously never going to happen, nor should it.
> Otherwise what is to stop a further rise in real
> estate taxes (not property taxes, that is different)
> after a meals tax is in place?
Nothing at all, and "property taxes" versus "the car tax" are the labels that get used in the vernacular. The Board of Supervisors meanwhjile reviews taxes and revenues annually. The question on the table but not yet addressed is whether you would like to have non-county residents share in the burdens of any needed tax/revenue increases or whether you think it would be better for county residents to simply go it alone in that regard.
> Real estate taxes somewhat effect all county
> residents, but renters only indirectly.
Landlords do not pay any real estate tax on behalf of their tenants. All of it is passed on as part of the rent. As owners, landlords do get to deduct the payments of that tax from their incomes. Renters -- out of whose pockets the payments actually come -- do not.
> They mostly hurt middle class families trying to
> recover from the housing crisis.
Yes, and the county (and its employees) took deep cuts as the Great Recession raged in order to protect county families from the double-whammy of falling incomes and rising taxes. Recovery is now not just underway, but becoming quite robust. This is the time for catch-up and repair. And for rebuilding rainy-day funds that would cushion the blow of any future such economic debacle. And again, you can have those outside the county help with that process via a meals tax, or we can do it all by ourselves through county property tax increases alone.
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the legislation enabling the meals tax placed
> an absolute cap on the real estate tax rate at
> $1.095 as part of the plan then it would be
> something to consider.
Land the spacecraft. That is obviously never going to happen, nor should it.
> Otherwise what is to stop a further rise in real
> estate taxes (not property taxes, that is different)
> after a meals tax is in place?
Nothing at all, and "property taxes" versus "the car tax" are the labels that get used in the vernacular. The Board of Supervisors meanwhjile reviews taxes and revenues annually. The question on the table but not yet addressed is whether you would like to have non-county residents share in the burdens of any needed tax/revenue increases or whether you think it would be better for county residents to simply go it alone in that regard.
> Real estate taxes somewhat effect all county
> residents, but renters only indirectly.
Landlords do not pay any real estate tax on behalf of their tenants. All of it is passed on as part of the rent. As owners, landlords do get to deduct the payments of that tax from their incomes. Renters -- out of whose pockets the payments actually come -- do not.
> They mostly hurt middle class families trying to
> recover from the housing crisis.
Yes, and the county (and its employees) took deep cuts as the Great Recession raged in order to protect county families from the double-whammy of falling incomes and rising taxes. Recovery is now not just underway, but becoming quite robust. This is the time for catch-up and repair. And for rebuilding rainy-day funds that would cushion the blow of any future such economic debacle. And again, you can have those outside the county help with that process via a meals tax, or we can do it all by ourselves through county property tax increases alone.
Re: 10% tax
Posted by:
Mosquito Bites
()
Date: January 29, 2015 12:03PM
More Dumb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Yes, most of the people who paid the tax would be
> county residents and most of the money collected
> would come from those residents. The point was to
> compare "most" with a meals tax to "all" with
> property taxes. Also that the "most" part is
> progressive and comes disproportionately from our
> more wealthy residents who can best afford to pay.
> How bad is it to be third in line behind people
> from other places and local rich people?
>
Nope because, as proposed, the meal tax isn't just on fancy sit-down restaurant meals.
The numbers of "little people" are much larger and, other than at the level of the very lowest of the low, they tend to spend about the same percentage of their income on 'food away from home' these days (increasingly so). So while a given more wealthy individual may generate more tax on a given occasional individual higher-end meal, you have many times more smaller, routine meal transactions at many times lesser places by many times more people on a daily basis. Roll that all up and the contribution from the latter equals or exceeds that of the top.
Essentially a meals tax breaks down to the "little people" subsidizing developers and larger property owners by keeping real estate taxes lower than they would be otherwise.
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Yes, most of the people who paid the tax would be
> county residents and most of the money collected
> would come from those residents. The point was to
> compare "most" with a meals tax to "all" with
> property taxes. Also that the "most" part is
> progressive and comes disproportionately from our
> more wealthy residents who can best afford to pay.
> How bad is it to be third in line behind people
> from other places and local rich people?
>
Nope because, as proposed, the meal tax isn't just on fancy sit-down restaurant meals.
The numbers of "little people" are much larger and, other than at the level of the very lowest of the low, they tend to spend about the same percentage of their income on 'food away from home' these days (increasingly so). So while a given more wealthy individual may generate more tax on a given occasional individual higher-end meal, you have many times more smaller, routine meal transactions at many times lesser places by many times more people on a daily basis. Roll that all up and the contribution from the latter equals or exceeds that of the top.
Essentially a meals tax breaks down to the "little people" subsidizing developers and larger property owners by keeping real estate taxes lower than they would be otherwise.