Going For The Last Drop?
When I became a “Board watcher” years ago, I was told the Arlington County Board does its best work after completing their published agenda. They do this by considering so-called “additional items.” The Board’s March 14 meeting was no different. The report to the Board, prepared by the County Manager is dated (get set to be surprised) March 14, 2009. In his “Board report” the Manager recommended the Board:
“Authorize advertising for a March 26, 2009, public hearing on proposed amendments to Chapter 14.2 (Motor Vehicles & Traffic) of the Arlington County Code, Section 14.2-73, as shown in Attachment I, allowing for a $9 increase to the motor vehicle license fee from $24 to $33 per year.” (emphasis added)
The Manager provides this summary of the issue:
“The Code of Virginia § 46.2-752 caps the fee that the County can charge for motor vehicle license fees at the same level for State motor vehicle licenses imposed by the Commonwealth, or $33 per year. By raising this fee from its current $24 per year to the statutory limit, the County will generate $1.2 million in revenue, of which $140,000 is included in the County Manager’s FY 2010 Proposed Budget. This fee increase would bring Arlington’s motor vehicle license fees in line with what is currently charged by the City of Alexandria and with what has recently been proposed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.”
It seems, however, the County Attorney may be looking to lose another court case. Although the Manager’s memo cites Virginia Code § 46.2-752, as well as § 46.2-694, no mention is made of Virginia Code § 46.2-753, which is entitled, “Additional license fees in certain localities, and includes the following sentence in the first paragraph:
“The total local license fee shall be no more than twenty-five dollars on any vehicle and this license fee shall not be imposed on any motor vehicle exempted under § 46.2-739.”
On Monday, the Arlington Sun Gazette reported, “Just when critics thought the County Board had found all the ways it could to raise taxes and fees, temptation strikes again.” That was followed in the printed edition by an editorial in the “Highs & Lows” where they wrote:
“To County Board members, for sneaking in the possibility of a bigger increase in the cost for county vehicle decals than they should . . . Apparently these board members don’t know the meaning of “regressive,” because any increase in the decal fee hits rich and poor equally. That’s not as socially noble as Arlington officials like to project themselves as being, now is it?”
Remember the County Board's tax hearing on Thursday, March 26, 2009. You can also e-mail your message to the Board; see the contact information in the right-hand column.