Loudoun County would raise taxes on wineries, breweries, golf courses and youth sports to increase funding for the financially troubled Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) under a budget amendment proposed today by Supervisor Matt Letourneau (I-Dulles).
Letourneau’s plan, which would have to be voted on by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, spells out how the rapidly growing county will pay its share of the funds needed to save the failing regional transportation system if the Special Tax Districts created to fund county’s share of operating and maintenance expenses fail to generate enough revenue.
On June 3, 2012, Letourneau was one of five supervisors who voted to have Loudoun County join the WMATA regional compact for Phase II of the Silver Line expansion. Metro was approved in Loudoun County on a 5-4 vote. Individual supervisors who voted for Metro became known as “Metro Supervisors.” Only two Metro supervisors remain in office, Letourneau and Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn).
When Metro was approved Loudoun’s share of the Silver Line capital costs were estimated at $270 million and annual operating costs were projected to be between $10 and $20 million dollars.
Since Loudoun voted for Metro, WMATA has doubled or tripled cost estimates on many budget items, leaving Loudoun County with unknown millions of dollars in unanticipated financial obligations and bad choices about raising taxes, paying county employees, funding the school system, and building roads.
For all of the tax money, Loudouners will pay for Metro, the county will gain only two miles of track.
Letourneau’s tax hike proposal would add $5 to the price of every bottle of local wine sold, $1 to every glass of local beer poured, $20 to every round of golf played and $50 to the fees charged the parents of each child playing on an organized youth sports team.
When asked about the impact of these fees, Letourneau said: “Yea sure, raising taxes hurts Loudoun families and small businesses, but it’s a small price to pay to help the rich developers who own land along the Silver Line, these guys are going to transform our county! Besides, people are having too much fun in Loudoun County. They should be home studying coordinated regional local government policy like me!”
Affectionately known as “Metro Matt” to county residents, Letourneau is an unabashed Metro cheerleader. His proposal includes $300,000 to erect marble statues of one Metro Supervisor at each entrance of the county’s three new Metro Stations. “I’m thinking Scott (York) at the airport, me at Loudoun Gateway and Ralph (Buona) at Ashburn. I found this pigeon resistant Italian marble on Amazon. It’ll be great. We’ll probably have to wait for future stations to open to put up statutes of Shawn (Williams) and Ken (Reid). Only by seeing our likenesses every day will the public truly appreciate our vision and understand the reasons for the higher taxes, underpaid teachers, crowded schools and clogged roads they’ll have to endure for years to bail out a generation of serious Metro financial mismanagement,” he said.
Loudoun County Treasurer Roger Zurn called Letourneau’s plan: “Stephen Hawking brilliant!”
Citing Zurn’s analysis, Metro Supervisor “Railroad Ralph” Buona immediately announced his support for Letourneau’s tax increase. “Nothing promotes economic growth quite like throwing away lots of the taxpayers’ money,” said Buona.
Former Supervisor Ken Reid (R-Leesburg), the swing vote on Metro approval, has not been seen publicly in months and could not be reached for comment.
Thomas Sanders is the former president of Blue Lion Computer Sales, Inc. Prior to moving to Loudoun County, he lived in Cumberland Maryland, Fairfax County Virginia, Atlanta Georgia and Florida.
62 comments
Here is the harsh reality in my opinion. The only realistic method to effectively fund and operated a mass transit system for the long haul is via a land value capture (LVC) transit funding scheme based on the idea that the benefits of public infrastructure are capitalized into land values, and can be captured from the
beneficiaries in this case developers and private landowners. Everything else is an ad hoc short term patch that provides no annual budgetary consistency in funding the infrastructure. Once you get past biting that bullet than you need to ensure you validate the long term underlying principles of Loudoun’s specific contingency requirements to the funding of WMATA. Here are a few examples of the things that the county administrators and local taxpayers must understand and validate.
!. First and foremost the infrastructure implementation must actually demonstrate real land value monetary benefit increases in the tangible form of effected county rising land values and therefore associated taxation collection where the mass transit infrastructure is actually provided. If this is NOT a resultant then you have in effect NO reasonable financial argument or case to push for mass transit investments right upfront.
2. A fair and equitable land value capture (LVC) model must incorporate ratio based mechanisms that allocate monetize and collect the land value increment as a revenue source for transit construction or operations from BOTH developer and private sources. What will be totally unacceptable is for the affected private land owners to be expected to carry a totally disproportionate percentage of the LVC while local developers that see immense monetary value add from mass transit infrastructure are allowed to skate free of impacts of severly underpay their LVC fair share.
3. The WMATA county contribution MUST be totally proportional to the associated LVC model for the given county. Bottom line the revenue level of support must be tied to the actual LVC funds. All agreements with the WMATA must be based on just such a LVC allocation. If your county is receiving only 20% of the WMATA implemented mass transit infrastructure investments and coverage operations than you should not be paying for 30 or 35 percent of the projected LVC revenue to the WMATA. This type of implementation takes the subjective “what is our fair share” out of the discussion and bases it on the presumed value add model.
4. The base assumption for ALL mass transit implementations is that as ridership increases the cost of operations will decrease. This is a given theory that the WMATA seems either unable or unwilling to achieve. Any long term LVC based funding mass transit approach tied to WMATA funding must have at its core contractual level specific decrementing operational cost riders that fall to the WMATA to meet or exceed.
Otherwise there is no real motivation to control costs and wring efficiencies from the mass transit system itself.
The WMATA with the state’s consent has been allowed to mutate into a bureaucratic entity that dictates to its funding county sources how they need to operate in underwriting its mass transit expansion and operational management. That casual arrow needs to be turned about and in the real world it is always the guy with the cash that defines the future not the guy spending it. The few examples above are far from comprehensive but they do I believe lay out a more rational (though not financially painless as that just doesn’t exist) for managing and funding WMATA future requirements at the county level.
Winery, Brewery, Golf and Youth Sports Tax Hikes are a makeshift patch that will not serve the counties’ long run requirements. What will it be in 2019 a countywide bake sale? The Mass Transit dye has been cast for Loudoun how its time to come up with a permanent and reasonable approach to pay the piper.
I would like my statue in Jerusalem marble 😉
In the Republican way of always desiring to have things privatized how come this option well eludes them?
$20.00 Dollars added to a round of golf (recreation)? Stupid!
A $50.00 fee for each child playing organized sport? Completely assine!
Yea , go ahead and make it more of a financial burden for parents who desire to have their children learn character and completion.
Where are the Loudoun County Republicans calling for privatization?
Stop approving development if you can’t handel the services required for the growth.
Loudoun county is the richest county in the nation and the fastest growing. Our unemployment rate is extremely low. Why on earth would we need or want more development? Why must our aims be to keep developers happy? We don’t want more development! Our roads can’t handle what we already have!
LOL You losers let Muslims live in big mansions in Loudoun County
Did you have a some point?
Probably paid shill — and then the post is used to smear TBE and us denizens.
It’s remarkably close to, or even more modest than, similar statements by Warmac9999.
I’m going to have to call you out on that — what warmac9999 statement is it close to or more modest?
Too many examples to cull just one. SImply search on “Warmac9999” and the word Muslim.
Give me the ones you used.
You said remarkably close, that means you used an example. Unless of course it was exaggerated rhetoric… even I have, on occasion, been accused of hyperbole.
My point: We’ve seen at least this offensive if not worse from Warmac9999. Agree with you: Attacking religion out of bounds, worse still denying it is a religion at all. We have plenty about which to differ without including a contest about who best hears God’s voice.
P.S. As I wrote, it is a simple search on the engine of your choice: Warmac9999 Muslim
You have stated your point, but have not yet proved it. You posture and equate a mocking post with warmac and I’m saying ‘show me.’ I do not assume your premise nor concede your point.
I do disagree-: Attacking a religion is NOT out of bounds and denying it is NOT worse.
I would wager that Islamic scholars do not see Islam as just another religion and they tend to be among the most fervent and adherent.
Just because it’s not my dance doesn’t mean I can’t have an opinion and comment upon the whirling.
Thankful for your contribution and opinion. I am addressing your prior point, which seemed to be that the commenter was disgracing TBE with his/her comment. My point is that I’ve seen worse. Proof is in the mind of the beholder.
Why do you call it posturing? It is my POV, not a pose. I do not attack the religious views of others — to the extent God is revealed to any of us, God is revealed to all of us, to each in their own way.
Some new guy posts something outrageous on TBE. I suggest it was agents provocateur. You say ‘warmac’s posted the same or worse.’ I say ‘Nay nay’ (or ‘neigh neigh.’) and ‘show me/prove it’
“Proof is in the mind of the beholder” is pretty much the poster child for posturing.
Religious views are like rights in that you may have and freely express them until they enter the zone of mine. Whether it be windshield tracts, daily trombone songs, guns, blades, cars, trucks and/or explosive cookery.
I am free to equally and do criticize xinu martyrs brigade, heavens gate, and the Lambs of God.
I directed you to the proof. Your call on your POV. Poster child for posturing?
Conflating violence with the practice of religion is a slippery slope for every religion. Even Quakers.
Yes, a vague snipe hunt. So unsubstantiated, your warmac charge is invalid.
Got it, Religion of Peace, moral equivalence. Sigh.
If you do not find it ultimately disrespectful and inappropriate to claim that the religion claimed by almost 2 billion people on this planet is not a religion at all and not deserving of our constitutional protections, then we differ and there is no evidence needed for the discussion at all.
You are simply playing a game, and were doing so in the first place when you claimed the commenter might make TBE look bad. I get it. Sorry for the trouble. I made the mistake of taking you seriously.
First unsubstantiated and now righteous indignation. So it goes. Islam does not require constitutional protections as it is THE highest law in the universe. It is Islam that protects you!
Disgraceful. Mocking any religion is inappropriate, especially in this great nation. My indignation is over the abandonment of reason and shredding the American notion of religious freedom.
You seem outraged, and are indeed signaling your virtue and respect for everybody but Me and Warmac.
Sorry if you are perceiving my rights as inappropriate. What should be my punishment for this slander?
Along with never get involved in a land war with Asia and never underestimate a Sicilian when death is on the line.
I feel no rage at all, only disappointment. At first it seemed you actually cared about the issue, then it seemed it was just optics, and then turns out you aren’t at all sympathetic. No interest in punishment, simply hoping to take steps towards greater tolerance.
Excellent ‘Tsk, tsk’ – (‘I’m not mad, just disappointed.’) Your rhetoric indicates a higher level of skill in the social media dark arts.
And at first it seemed that you wanted to shun and shame equating warmac for a hyperbolic slur — still waiting for that retraction.
‘Sympathy and Tolerance’ ain’t we signaling only the best of virtues. This is a right-wing localized political blog that has been taken over by 10th district Republicans. How do you fit in here, and do actually expect to find the W compassionate conservatives here to bond with?
You should spend some time learning more about this issue, your world may well depend upon it.
Rocinante: Thanks for the amateur analysis, worth every penny I paid and then some.
Also appreciated: Your self-appointed role as defining the “blog’s” purpose — which is an interesting call on your part, but irrelevant to me, who simply takes it on face value.
Better I should ask you: How do you fit in here? What’s your role? Your Quixotic purpose? What’s your problem with compassionate conservatism?
I come here for one reason: Encourage Republicans and conservatives to care about the average Virginian. Failure to do so has cost the average Virginian mightily as you lead your party past the right-wing fringe.
Your increasing irrelevance troubles because there is no longer a competition for the center, long ago ceded to Democrats. Sad that.
Back to arguing about Corey Stewart. Like it or not, he defines your party. Top o’ the ballot, top o’ mind.
I am not this warmac999. Read discussion for further updates.
Understood. Your views are similar, which was my point to Roc. In fact, Warmac9999 goes further, says Islam is not a religion at all.
Warmac9999 sounds like an owner/admin of this TBE website
He is not. Please see above post.
I like Warmac9999 as with many others including yourself.
LOL, check out ronpaulforums.com. There’s a poster there who claims to own bullelephant and also says that “Claiming Islam as a religion is the functional equivalent of issuing a death threat.” LOL.
You’re not pimping for that site are you?
I’d like to see that quote in context, but arguing this issue is haram.
Who made you a fatwa-issuing imam?
I am but a simple equine, I only reflect the climate of the RPV SCC against Carpenter Cult members who are clumsy political practitioners of cyber-rhetoric. In this timeline, it is the RPV Inquisitioners that issue the fatwas. His name was Fredy Burgos.
I wish I was paid for this lol
If you weren’t paid, then you’re just as twisted as the rest of us, probably moreso as you’ve apparently signed into that Ron Paul forum.
We’re usually pretty good about spotting the paid help from Share Blue.
I read ronpaulforums.com to get a window into libertarian white people and how they think. i never sign in there so i don’t post there.
I couldn’t search for the guy you mentioned without creating an account, not worth the effort.
You must have a fancier browser than me, I can’t figure out how to filter for race on mine.
I’ve always thought life’s too short to try to figure out how/what/if Libertarians are thinking, but there are a couple of columnists here that I think surpass whatever you’ve found on a Ron Paul forum.
You are probably correct in that assessment. That website is for entertainment purposes mostly. In any case here’s the link to that thread regarding TBE: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?520919-They-ve-already-won/page3
On page 4, there’s another poster who has that quote in question from the user claiming to be associated with TBE in his signature line.
Oh that’s what I mean by the libertarian columnists on TBE. No doubt they were indulging in brand promotion.
At one time, the Paul’s were regarded as having quite the following in Virginia. You can still see their party influence as they flail about trying to have tea and no tea at the same time.
Ron Paul is a good guy though. His followers, eh, not so much.
Any time in politics somebody has ‘followers,’ you know no good will come of it. (see Hill, Shak)
I just think it’s amusing that one of the owners/admins of this site states that ‘Claiming Islam as a religion is the functional equivalent of issuing a death threat’ on another forum; and then allows these issuers of death threats to live amongst him. What a sniveling little coward, lol, like most of Trump’s supporters.
There are only two owners/administrators of this site, myself and Steve Albertson. I can assure you that neither of us said anything like that.
Exactly what I had said in the last sentence.
The rest of the Commonwealth should never expense a dime for the Metro.
And if Republicans hold true to the claims that Goverment is the problem then they should be calling for a alternative privatized commuter system to solve traffic congestion issues.
Tax the Golf, the rich will pay the others that disagree will set a tee time elsewhere. And how will a $20.00 fee be applied to counyry club memberships that only see daily fee for the cart?
Tax Youth Recreation sport in in already dwindling enrollment doesn’t make sense either. Patents of youth athletes only use Rec. for a limited time then *progress* to a more properly run privatized sport like USSSA Baseball and other Travel Tournament sports. Ok so tax the tournament, right then the teams go to play the tournaments in Richmond, Roanoke, Christiansburg ect… To MANDATE A premium cost YOU have to deliver on the goods; quality courts, fields, coaches.
Taxing youth sport will upset and motivate parents to seek organized sport elsewhere other that Loudoun County Parks and Rec.
If an individual thinks that those taxes are good why stop there? Then why not tuition tax your local private schools also?
I know – it’s been years since i’ve heard people say rural Loudoun.
Freedom for land owners to decide for themselves what to do with their land, including their right to develop (or sell to developers) that land. Telling land owners what to do with their land is wrong and a violation of conservative Republican principles. Loudoun must accommodate the choices of its citizens, which is to develop their land. Their property, their call.
But it really does matter how their choices interact with the other people that own other land adjacent and nearby affected. While I am quarrying the necessary stone for the statuary of our electeds, my neighbors may not approve of my methods or leavings. Good battlements make for good neighbors.
Yes, fences and freedom within them make good neighbors. Asserting the interests of one’s neighbors makes your comment seem almost liberal, asserting as it does a social interest in regulating the individual. How might Ayn Rand have seen this issue?
Probably from the bottom of a glass, but I think it’s safe to say that your rights stop where my rights start.
This is different from a liberal telling you what you can/must/cannot do with your property — this is suggesting that the expression of your rights should not take precedence over mine.
Regardless of their politics, if they are asserting a social claim to your property they are taking a more liberal POV than might otherwise be taken by someone with a conservative POV, at least according to consistent doctrine. Lots of hypocrites!
I’m replying that rights intersect, and neither automatically trumps the other… unless eminent domain or RPV SCC in party matters.
I agree with you, but I note that this is a more liberal POV than conservative property rights advocates espouse. This view admits a social perspective on what are otherwise seen as individual rights. It is by definition more liberal.
Traditional liberal maybe. For me to violate and not recognize your rights is repugnant.
I never use the term hypocrite. It can be used on some in many ways against our personal beliefs in a derogatory manner.
I believe W to be a Patriot and a devoted believer in the only God.
God our father.
Only within the law and Zoning.
We would not a Development built by illegal immigrants now would we?
I would not like a methadone clinic in my neighborhood.
Then we can go into single family dwellings.
Many intricate issues envolved to paint with a broad stroke.
If I were a Representative I would proceed with extreme caution.
Not pickin on you in no way.
Which is the Republican way? 2 Examples, Same Developer, Same Republican BOS Member, different ruling though.
1) This BOS member voted no on an Apartment Development citing concern for school overcrowding ( very close proximity to his home and private school where his children attend)
2) Same BOS member voted yes on Apartment Development 1 mile up the road stating;
it’s a no brainer, the amount of tax revenue generated.
I truly struggle with conflicting votes of the same subject.
Which is the Republican way?
Surely not self interest.
It is Loudoun County call to develop it’s lands, with that remember;
Piss Poor Planning Leads to Piss Poor Performance.
You forgot horses and cattle. Lots of tax dollars there in western Loudoun.
April Fools Day is tomorrow, isn’t it?