No gas-tax increase in Kaine roads proposal
Item by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
Looks like the naysayers had Tim Kaine all wrong. Kaine today unveiled his plan for making investments in Virginia’s transportation system, and the plan did not include a gas-tax increase, as the governor’s critics had been saying for days would be the case.
“During the past several weeks I have talked to legislators, local elected officials, business leaders and other citizens about addressing our transportation problems,” Kaine said. “Today, based on those discussions, I am offering a plan that is simple, statewide and sustainable to address the growing shortfall in our maintenance needs and provides dedicated funds to address our statewide and regional transportation needs.”
Kaine’s plan does increase the existing motor-vehicle sales tax from 3 percent to 4 percent and increases the statewide vehicle-registration fee by $10 annually. The plan also includes a 1 percent increase in local sales taxes in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads and a 25-cent increase in the statewide grantor’s tax.
“I look forward to working with both parties in the Senate and House of Delegates to address the serious transportation challenges and opportunities we face,” said Kaine, who has set a special session of the Virginia General Assembly to deal with transportation for June 23.
Kaine also announced a schedule of town-hall meetings to discuss transportation that will begin on May 13 in Woodbridge. A May 22 town-hall meeting will be held in Staunton at Mary Baldwin College at 6:30 p.m.
More information on the Governor’s transportation plan can be found at www.transportation.virginia.gov.
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