Whereas, Governor Gilmore and the Republican General Assembly are working to keep their promises to Virginia for phasing out the car tax; and

Whereas, Democrat legislators and various special-interest groups are seeking to delay or reverse the car-tax phase-out, and are also proposing new taxes - including a regional sales tax for Northern Virginia - which would undercut the benefits of the car-tax elimination; and

Whereas, the sales tax proposal would include a new regional authority encompassing eight cities and counties, dominated by a single jurisdiction (Fairfax County), and not directly accountable to the voters of the region; and

Whereas, the proceeds of a Northern Virginia regional sales tax would be used largely for road projects in Fairfax and other locations outside the Beltway, with little benefit for Arlington residents; and

Whereas, a regional sales tax on top of the existing state sales tax and local restaurant tax would adversely affect our local shops, restaurants and merchants in Arlington, as well as the Arlington residents who pay sales taxes; and

Whereas. Virginia's $24 billion state budget includes ample resources to fund important state responsibilities for transportation and education, without the addition of new taxes;

Now, therefore, the Arlington County Republican Committee resolves:

We support Governor Gilmore and Republicans in the General Assembly in their effort to keep the car tax repeal on track and on schedule.

We oppose efforts to impose a new regional sales tax in Northern Virginia, and to create a new non-elected regional authority to oversee such a tax.

Considered and adopted by the Arlington County Republican Committee at its monthly meeting on January 25, 2001, in Arlington, Virginia.

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