Fairfax County Meals Tax: Not a Chance, Some Voters Say

Fairfax Chamber of Commerce won't support a possible 4 percent tax on meals and beverages in Fairfax County. But some leaders say it's a good way to bring in extra revenue.

A potential meals tax in Fairfax County is already leaving a bad taste in the mouths of some members of the business community. During a meeting of the county’s top economic officials Tuesday, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) said it was opposed to the tax. Christian Deschauer, the FCCC’s vice president of government relations, said the chamber would not support a referendum — a position shared by many restaurant owners, he said. “We’ve never supported state legislation or board action that specifically targets a single industry,” Deschauer said. “I’ve talked to a bunch of restaurants in the past week … and the message has not changed from them – they remain adamantly opposed. That’s just the initial feedback.” Last week …

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McDonnell's Transportation Bill Moves Forward

House committee added amendments Wednesday to the package, which would eliminate Virginia's gas tax and hike sales taxes to raise $3 billion over five years.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s controversial transportation bill passed the House of Delegates Finance Committee on Wednesday, moving past its first hurdle in the state's 2013 General Assembly session. In a 14-8 vote, the committee passed McDonnell’s package, which calls for eliminating the state’s 17.5 cents per gallon gas tax and raising the state sales tax from 5 percent to 5.8 percent. The plan would also keep the 17.5 tax on diesel fuel and increase vehicle registration fees. It would also raise the amount of the state’s sales tax that goes to transportation from 5 to 75 cents over a five-year period. McDonnell said the bill would raise approximately $3 billion in that time, including $1.8 billion for new construction. The committee — …

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Photos: Tim Kaine and George Allen Debate in Tysons Corner

Take any photos at the event? Add them to this gallery!

Virginia's U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine and George Allen traded jabs today at the Capital One complex in McLean.  Kaine, a Democrat and former governor and chair of the Democratic National Committee, wants the Bush-era tax cuts to expire for individuals making more than $500,000 annually and cutting subsidies to the five largest oil companies. "Each of those elements represents a compromise," Kaine later told reporters, reiterating the theme of bipartisanship that peppered nearly all of his debate comments. Allen, the Republican candidate and also a former governor, criticized Kaine and his campaign for not doing an independent analysis of the proposal to see what its impact on jobs would be — the implication being that the Kaine plan …

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To Attract a New County Executive, Money Is No Object

Panel, citizens agree a higher salary is needed to attract the right candidate for an impossible job

"We’re not going to get somebody in here on Tony’s salary," said a constituent at Supervisor John Cook's Town Hall on Monday night.  Fairfax County Executive Tony Griffin is scheduled to retire in April, and the Board of Supervisors has begun the process to replace him. According to Cook, Griffin currently earns about $240,000 a year. School superintendent Jack Dale earns about $320,000 a year, and many in the room said that discrepancy would need to be adjusted if the county wanted to attract top candidates for county executive. Supervisor Cook agreed. "The Board of Supervisors hasn't yet set any parameters, but when you're as big as Fairfax County, you find who you want and you get them," he said. "We’re going to pay what we need to pay…

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McLean Morning Report

Latest McLean News – Tuesday, Sept. 20

Morning Briefing

Good Morning McLean, Liquor Sales to Minors Con'd. Answers to neighbors' questions about recent charges. Election Endorsements. Leading Fairfax County business PAC endorses McLean, county candidates. Candidate Profile: Janet Howell. A look at the candidate and the issues. Reminder: Emergency Food appeal from Share.

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