Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is preparing the budget proposal for this coming year, and so far, the indications point towards a bringing back the car tax and placing other tax increase ideas “on the table,” as a way to balance the budget. This could not come at a worst time, as we are in an economic recession and unemployment numbers are at the highest they have been in a long time (these numbers continue to climb). It’s hard enough for many Virginia families to afford another tax increase, especially in a dismal economy.
Perhaps, we should take a look at why Kaine is placing tax increases on the table. Could it be that his administration was overly optimistic in budget projections over the past few years?
There are other alternatives to raising taxes. Recently, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, along with House Speaker Bill Howell, Lacey Putney, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, and William C. Wampler, Ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee sent a letter to the Governor requesting that he look at other alternatives, such as cutting spending and eliminating unessential programs. This is the only viable and fiscally responsible way to address balancing a budget without placing strain on taxpayers.
Hopefully, Kaine will listen to the suggestions from Bolling and the other Republican leaders and work towards common sense solutions to balancing the Commonwealth’s budget.
