Arlington, VA Delegation Announces Arlington Gains from General Assembly
Arlington County, VA
March 17, 2005
Contact: 703-276-9414
The Arlington County delegation to the Virginia General Assembly released today a wrap-up of important state budget actions in the 2005 General Assembly session that will benefit County residents. The Arlington delegation consists of State Senators Mary Margaret Whipple and Patsy Ticer, and Delegates Marian Van Landingham, Bob Brink, Al Eisenberg, and Adam Ebbin. These favorable budget actions consist of the following:
Cut in sales tax on groceries
Effective on July 1, 2005 , the sales tax on unprepared food at Virginia grocery stores will be $.025, down from the current $.04. The Virginia tax on other retail sales is $.05. This means that Arlington residents will receive about $8 million in annual tax cuts on groceries purchased in Arlington , which translates into $44 in annual tax savings per Arlington resident.
$950 million ceiling on car tax reimbursements to localities.
Due to the budget amendments adopted during the General Assembly session, Arlington taxpayers will likely continue to receive a 70% reduction in their car tax through 2005. Faster growing localities, such as the outer suburbs, will see their percentage of state car tax paid by the state reimbursement shrink.
"599" Funding for Police
Increase of $168,000 to Arlington 's FY06 funds for public safety improvements
Tourism
The Arlington delegation secured the extension of the $.025 surcharge on Arlington 's hotel 5% hotel tax which the County has had since 1991. This surcharge is not a new tax; it continues a tax which raises $800,000 a year for an earmarked tourism promotion fund that allows Arlington to compete with the District of Columbia for tourism and business travel. All 40 of Arlington 's hotels supported the extension of this special surcharge.
Schools
The General Assembly provided $15.4 in state lottery funds added to FY06 funds for local schools. We anticipate receiving a total of $866,580 in FY 2006 from the State Lottery. This revenue amount is allocated (one-half each) to the School Operating Fund and the Capital Projects Fund. The County is receiving an added $311,000 to help fund a 3% salary increase for Arlington teachers. More is necessary to accomplish the full increase.
Environment
The 2005 budget amendments provided $54 million for the state water quality fund to start Chesapeake Bay cleanup, benefiting Arlington County and Northern Virginia , as a whole.
Assisted Living & Medicaid
Budget amendments upped Northern Virginia 's monthly Assisted Living Facilities payments by $57.50 per client. The amendments also increase Medicaid reimbursements slightly (thus upping federal payments too) for pediatric dental and medical care, ob/gyn, emergency room care, adult day care, and pharmacy services. The shortfall in funds for anti-psychotic medicines was also made up.
Local Government
Arlington received a 3-4.5% increase in state compensation funds for salaries of constitutional officers and their staffs. This means an additional $400,000 for Arlington.
Transportation
$75 million for Transit capital projects including $40million for new Metro cars in Northern Virginia, which would come on line as early as FY08, a boon for Arlington .
Signature Theater
$200,000 in capital funds for capital construction costs for the new Signature Theatre in Shirlington