MESSAGE FROM SUPERVISOR KAUFFMAN

MESSAGE FROM SUPERVISOR KAUFFMAN

Over the next two months, State and local leaders will be taking a hard look at the responsibility for funding local transportation and school construction projects. Whatever ultimately takes place, I think everyone agrees that the current situation is unacceptable and I hope you will join the debate.

The Board of Supervisors and the School Board have taken a bi-partisan position endorsing legislation that would give Fairfax County the authority to raise the local sales tax by one cent subject to voter approval in a referendum. Both Chris Braunlich (Lee District School Board Member) and I voted to move this forward. If approved by the General Assembly and then by area voters, this increase would fund capital projects (on a pay-as-you-go basis) to begin getting our students out of trailers and help realize long needed transportation improvements. The proposal would not solve the systemic funding problems we face in Northern Virginia, nor would it help fund school operating expenses such as teacher salaries or books.

Currently the County Board is in a "whip saw" position as we neither receive adequate State funds to keep pace with development nor do we have State enabling authority to `just say no' to new housing development projects until adequate roads and schools are in place. This is why I believe the status quo is unacceptable:

Take a look at these 1999 figures from the County's Office of Management and Budget:

With only 25 percent of the state's population, Northern Virginia accounts for 39 percent of the State's individual income tax returns.

With only 14 percent of the State's population, Fairfax County accounts for 24 percent of the State's income tax revenue.

With national and state budget surpluses due to recent growth in income tax revenues, Fairfax County does not proportionally reap the benefits of that growth.

And, we are watching Virginia's surplus melt as the economy slows and softens.

Under the proposed legislation, the public would decide by means of a referendum if it wished to "jump start" efforts to fill this revenue gap and provide adequate schools and transportation here in Fairfax County. It would not relieve the State of ultimate responsibility for transportation funding nor end our efforts to get our fair share of revenues and local growth management controls. What you see is what you get with this proposal. The projects you would be "purchasing" with the one cent increase would be listed in the referendum.

Several similar bills are slated to be presented in Richmond. However, these bills would increase the sales tax to fund only transportation, not transportation and education. The Board of Supervisors felt that any legislative relief must also include funding to deal with our classroom shortages. At this time, we have no idea what, if anything, will be approved.

I urge you to participate and closely monitor how this debate proceeds. As a voter, you will have the final say in the fate of any legislation that passes.