Letters to the Editor

Says Kilgore Plan Only 'Truth in Taxing'

Editor,

I read “Kaine, Kilgore Plans Will Kill School Funding”, in last week’s News-Press Letters to the Editor. The letter asserts that Mr. Kilgore’s proposal will result in a property tax cap. I have researched his proposal and the letter’s assertion is incorrect.

His proposal, in no way, has any impact whatever on tax revenues.

I called Mr. Kilgore’s campaign headquarters, before reading the News-Press, and received an explanation of his proposal. The only thing Mr. Kilgore’s proposal does is force local politicians to tell us they want to raise taxes if they want to raise spending.

That’s all, nothing else, no cap on taxes, no cap on spending, no cap on school spending, no cut in school funding, no limitation whatever on revenues. In other words, no Proposition 13, or anything near that, as the News-Press letter fears. I suppose you might call Mr. Kilgore’s proposal, “Truth in taxing”.

Let me explain with an example close to home. Home owners, like me, in Fairfax County are being told that the politicians are giving us a “historic” 2005 cut in the property tax rate. Yet, these same home owners are being blessed, at the same time, with a double-digit 2005 property tax increase.
So, in Fairfax County, at least, our math goes something like this: Tax Cut = Tax Hike.
Confusing, isn’t it?

The only thing Mr. Kilgore’s proposal addresses is this - he makes it impossible to have a tax hike that is called a tax cut.

Under the proposal, if it were in effect now, Fairfax Co. would have to tell the voters, during the budget hearings, that spending is going up and taxes are going up. Instead, the emphasis over here is on the “historic” tax rate cut. A tax cut that is a tax increase? Yep, that’s about it.

However, if your math works like ours in Fairfax County (i.e., Tax Cut = Tax Hike), you might not like what Mr. Kilgore is saying. But maybe you would like to check out his proposal for yourself. Call (804)421-9966, Mr. Kilgore’s campaign headquarters. I did.

James E. Foster , Springfield, VA

Hopes City Will Consider Tax Relief

Editor,

It is a shame to read about trials and tribulations of homeowners having difficulties in this area.

It’s assumed that big pay raises come at the same time of getting hit with higher assessments on properties. I guess our government officials don’t realize this is not the true nature of such raises, especially for retirees and low income people whose COLAs aren’t in that ballpark, either.

Think maybe our government will see the trend and consider a break for common people?

Len Rinaldi Sr., Falls Church

Letters may be sent to Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 929 West Broad Street #200, Falls Church, VA 22046 or may be faxed to 703-532-3396 or emailed here.