 |
|
|
Sales Tax
Myths and Realities
|
|
MYTH
|
REALITY
|
| The tax will improve
air quality |
No studies show tax
referendum projects would improve congestion or air quality. In the absence of
smart growth planning, adding capacity is counter-productive. |
| 40% for transit, guaranteed |
Transit funding is
actually much less. The 40% "guarantee" only applies to the initial
$2.8B, requires NVTA approval, and is dependent on federal matching funds. |
| We offer no alternatives |
Blueprint
for a Better Region offers
a realistic, achievable plan for both transportation & livable communities,
not contingent on major new infrastructure & endorsed by local leaders. |
| Opponents to the tax
are providing misinformation |
Our positions are based
on published reports & public documents. |
| The referendum is
all about smart growth |
The region's leading
smart growth, environmental, & bicycling orgs. oppose it. |
| The tax is good for
Metro |
Only 5% is allocated
to Metro's urgent maintenance and rail car needs. Metro needs $6.2 billion for
these needs but the sales tax allocates only $250 million over 20 years, just
$12.5 million per year. |
What
is the REAL Full Story?
"[The
sales tax referendum] does not address any of our concerns. The sales tax package
completely lacks performance measures such as whether it reduces vehicle miles
traveled, improves air pollution, and decreases the amount of sprawl development
in the region. No business leader would make a $5 billion investment without the
accountability provided by such performance measures." - Chris
Miller, Piedmont Environmental Council
LEAVING ASIDE
the lack of action on growth management, the public has yet to be given the full
story about the proposed tax hike and the regional authority. For example:
- TOTAL COST:
The list of projects appears to be a new wish list that will start dozens of projects
for which full costs have not been disclosed. What is the total price tag of the
projects to completion? We believe it could be $15 billion or more.
- LENGTH:
Is there a sunset to the sales tax - will it be discontinued in 20 years? And,
if there is no sunset, how much more than $5 billion will it generate over 30,
40, or 50 years?
- CONGESTION
RELIEF: Has the sales tax project list been evaluated to determine if it will,
in fact, reduce congestion?
- AIR QUALITY:
Has the project list been evaluated to determine its effect on air quality? Recently
VDOT cut 100 lane-miles of roads from the 6-Year plan and admitted that this will
result in a significant reduction in projected nitrogen oxide pollution. Alternatively,
past experience demonstrates that adding so many new highways and widening projects
to northern Virginia will likely increase air pollution.
- LAND USE &
WATER IMPACTS: Has the project list been evaluated to determine the direct
and secondary land use changes that it will spark and its effect on rural and
agricultural land, natural areas, and water quality and supplies (groundwater
and surface water recharge capability). Reports indicate that suburban sprawl
is making droughts worse by increasing flash runoff and reducing the recharge
of groundwater and surface water.
- PAST TAX HIKES:
During Governor Baliles' Administration, 1.2 cent of the sales tax was dedicated
to transportation. How much money has been generated and spent on transportation
projects and how effective was this increased spending in reducing traffic congestion?
- OTHER BONDS:
How many special Northern Virginia transportation bonds have been approved
by the General Assembly over the last decade? How have these been paid for and
how effective have the projects been at reducing congestion?
- TECHWAY:
Could the $2.2 billion (or billions more, if there is no sunset) in unallocated
cash be used to build the controversial "Techway" Potomac bridge crossing
or controversial Western Bypass?
- DULLES RAIL
FUNDING: Doesn't Dulles Rail have a funding plan in place that does not include
or require the sales tax funds? If so, why do the proponents say that the sales
tax is the only way to get Dulles Rail built?
We believe that
these and other questions should be answered before the voters are asked to decide
this significant issue.
Coalition for
Smarter Growth
www.smartergrowth.net
|
|
|
|
