Delegate Miller's Conundrum
Manassas Republican Delegate Jackson Miller is faced with a conundrum. Either he follows the lead of his fellow city councilor Republican supporters and supports at least a 23% increase in the gas tax (that is the same property tax percentage increase the gang of 6 shoved through on Manassas property owners) ....
or he takes marching orders from Republican House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith who is quoted in Wednesday's press as stating, " a gas-tax increase would hit the middle class hard and do little to solve the state's long term transportation needs."
Two points:
First, according to Delegate Griffith, a tax increase will do little to solve problems. How did his fellow Republicans on Manassas City Council miss that memo? They thought that a 23% increase would solve problems. Either tax increases will solve problems or they don't. You can't have it both ways. Sounds like Virginia Republicans have a problem staying on message. Or just gouging its citizens.
Second, if the state gas tax is increased by the same percentage Manassas City Council increased the property tax, then those who buy gasoline in the state would see an whopping increase of just $.004 more per gallon.
The real question is to whom Delegate Miller will respond. Will he be in tune with the local community and support at least a four cent increase in the gas tax...or will he let his strings be pulled by hierarchy of the General Assembly and oppose any increase in the gas tax?
Given his obvious absence in the public arena responding and reporting to his constituents during the regular session, one would conclude his finger is in the wind waiting to figure out which position betters his political career.
or he takes marching orders from Republican House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith who is quoted in Wednesday's press as stating, " a gas-tax increase would hit the middle class hard and do little to solve the state's long term transportation needs."
Two points:
First, according to Delegate Griffith, a tax increase will do little to solve problems. How did his fellow Republicans on Manassas City Council miss that memo? They thought that a 23% increase would solve problems. Either tax increases will solve problems or they don't. You can't have it both ways. Sounds like Virginia Republicans have a problem staying on message. Or just gouging its citizens.
Second, if the state gas tax is increased by the same percentage Manassas City Council increased the property tax, then those who buy gasoline in the state would see an whopping increase of just $.004 more per gallon.
The real question is to whom Delegate Miller will respond. Will he be in tune with the local community and support at least a four cent increase in the gas tax...or will he let his strings be pulled by hierarchy of the General Assembly and oppose any increase in the gas tax?
Given his obvious absence in the public arena responding and reporting to his constituents during the regular session, one would conclude his finger is in the wind waiting to figure out which position betters his political career.
Ok, smart guy. First of all 4 cents is 0.04 not 0.004. Second the city tax RATE went up 23% not the taxes, and you know it so you are not truthful. How can anybody take you on your word when your word it wrong? Quit this 'blog', it sucks.
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Right!! Now typing will be critiqued instead of the issue. So he got a decimal point wrong. I am sure that you have never done that!!!!
Now, on the tax rate. Just what do you thing that the taxes are based on? The tax rate. If the rate goes up, then the amount of taxes you pay will go up as well. I know that you are not that ignorant.
And I won't even talk about all the fee hikes that we now get to enjoy.
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OHS Grad is correct that the it is the tax rate which went up 23%, and the city budget went up 6%.
My point if it needs to be made again for those slow in catching on is I have not increased any of my prices 23% this year nor will my income come close to increasing 6%, the percentage that the total city budget went up this year.
Simply this is a group of Republicans who have campaigned on low taxes and small government when they wanted to be election. But they don't walk the their talk. In fact, Jon Way in the most recent election says he wants to "control taxes to inflation..." Well inflation is not anywhere close to 6%.
Everything they did this year is in direct opposition to those propositions they ran on. Council holds budget planning meetings at times when most citizens can not attend so it is like they want to meet in secret to do these tax hikes.
OHS Grad must like paying higher taxes since he is unwilling to hold the current Council accountable for taking money from its citizens when the economy does not warrant such actions.
I hear nothing from him about any outrage about paying more, how these budget decisions are arrived at, or what one gets.
OHS reminds me of Shakespeare's "sound and fury." Rather than engage in any rational discussion of budget decisions effecting the thousands of citizens in this city, he want to nitpick about a decimal point.
Good job OHS Grad. Guess the budget discussion was over your head.
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