Virginia Beach City Government: Trash tax?
People pay local taxes for certain simple things: Schools, law enforcement, emergency services…
And picking up the trash.
I hit the ceiling when I read that some city staff are exploring charging extra for trash pickup! Are they kidding?
“budget officials discussed how the trash fee could “buy back” eliminated positions.” (Pilot)
City staff is trying to find ways to pay for things they’re already paying for to save staff jobs????
The average cost of a city employee, including benefits, is $65,112. (Pilot)
Look, I love Virginia Beach. I live here for many good reasons. But who in their right minds thinks people want to chip in an extra 8 bucks a month so people making much more than the per capita income can keep cashing the checks?
I read about Boulder, Colorado who “temporarily” imposed a trash tax. “Staff is recommending that the energy portion of the Trash Tax increase be sunset after 2 years” (City of Boulder)
Yeah, and guess what happened. After 2 years, they rolled it into a Carbon Energy tax where you pay local taxes on electricity in your home. Temporary?
Meanwhile, let’s read question #21 on the application for appointment to VB City Council to finish Del.-elect Ron Villanueva’s term.
21. There has been some debate about the best location for the City’s new Convention Center headquarters hotel. Describe your thoughts concerning the location and any other ideas you may have.
Yeah, I have an idea. Pick up my trash.
Meanwhile, HRT’s light rail project is going to be late and over budget, and where did local elected officials learn that? The Newspaper!
City Council elections are in 2010, folks. The fact is that the actions of appointed folks are going to be on the minds of voters when they determine who stays on City Council and who goes.
Government has less money because you and I have less money. Coming to us for more doesn’t solve the problem.
And charging people an extra 8 bucks a month for something that is the main reason I pay taxes in the first place isn’t the answer.
What’s next? A law enforcement surcharge? Live in a bad neighborhood, and get an extra bill in the mail? A school surcharge? The city can send a bill home with every student with a surcharge for actually sending a kid to school.
That’s how crazy it sounds. Here’s the weird part: I wouldn’t be surprised if some city department hasn’t discussed doing those insane things.
Citizens are reasonable. Everyone will surely understand if certain city services are temporarily trimmed while we weather the economic storm. But charging surcharges for basic city services can not be part of the equation.
Category: Government
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Never cease to be amazed by the limited creativity of our city bureaucrats.
For once: We agree!!! The City Council folks are nuts if they think this is going to go over easy. I work in Vb and even I can find millions that could be cut out instead of raising taxes…
And I’d point out these city council folks are mostly “claiming” to be republicans. Maybe you all could remind them that repubs are not supposed to support raising taxes. Merry Christmas!
Brian,
Which “elected officials”? The Norfolk light rail cost overruns came to the attention of the TDCHR in a sidebar on December 10, 9 days before the newspaper story. The newspaper then got wind of the story prior to the emergency meeting of the TDCHR’s Executive Committee, which will be this Wednesday.
Clearly Brian, for you tis the season of selfishess, individualism, and libertarianism, which is ironic given the religious messages of charity and community that abound at this time of the year.
Those who may be asked to pay a bit more, even though we pay much less than most, rise up in indignant anger and despair, claiming that a few pennies more on the real estate tax rate, the lowest in the region, or a trash fee, will cause pain and suffering, even as it is clear if we don’t pay a bit more, many employees and their families will suffer the indignity of layoffs and unemployment. As a community, we must face the consequences of electing Legislators and political leaders for whom the lowest tax rate is the objective, rather than a balance between services and taxes/fees. If as a electorate, we prefer to let those in need, and those who must be educated, and those who must be trained to join the workforce, and those who use public services, suffer or go without, we, like you, will have forgotten the benefits of civil society.
Mike, how’d your Democrat slate do this year?
The City of Alexandria did this in the late 90s, or early this decade.
It’s given the City Council a fee to raise, which they do with some frequency.
It’s also a particular nuisance, because, unlike property taxes, trash “fees” can’t be deducted from your income for Federal income tax purposes.
Using the usual Democrat analysis, it’s also regressive–the poor and the rich pay the same fee for garbage, no matter how much the home whence the garbage comes is worth.
The only way I’d sign up for the garbage tax is if Democrats agreed to the flat tax.
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