While it appears Virginia’s leaders have come to an agreement on a new transportation funding bill, not all local voices agree with the new legislation awaiting approval from both the state Sentate and House of Delegates.
The new bill approved by Virginia’s General Assembly will is expected to raise nearly $900 million for transportation revenue, and would replace a 17.5 cent tax per gallon of gas – a rate not touched since 1986 – and replace it with a 3.5 cent wholesale gas tax.
Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart in a statement Thursday touted his county’s road building program that independent of the state’s Virginia Department of Transportation:
While I have been Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, the Board stepped up to the plate when the state would not by funding our own $300 million road building program. And we did so without raising taxes.
We funded our road building program by cutting spending and eliminating programs. We then put those savings into transportation.
When you make something a priority it may require you to make tough decisions, but it can be done without raising taxes.
According to the state’s own audit commission, the state budget increased 66% between 2002 and 2011, with only 5% of that growth going toward transportation.
The state must fund transportation, but it must do so by prioritizing transportation in its budget and using existing revenue sources, not by raising taxes. That is why I oppose this plan.
Stewart is also seeking the nomination to run for Virginia’s next Lt. Governor to replace outgoing Bill Bolling.
At odds with Stewart’s statements are those of Prince William Chamber President Rob Clapper who supports passage of the bill and called it an “historic measure”:
“The lack of progress on this issue has been holding the businesses and people of the Commonwealth back. Northern Virginia faces one of the longest commute times in the nation; studies show this gridlock costs $1,398 and 67 hours per driver each year. That is money that could be spent in the local economy, time that could be spent on our businesses or in our communities,” said Clapper.
He added, “We commend the conferees for moving this funding package forward. Now, we urge the General Assembly to take action and avoid a transportation crisis for the Commonwealth. It is critical that we get the people and businesses of Northern Virginia moving again.”
The apporoved measure is not what Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell initially proposed. Under the Republican’s original plan, the state’s gas tax would have been abolished altogether and the state sales tax raised from five to 5.8 percent.
