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Arlington resident Marjorie Blakely is voting against it.
Harlow T. Munson of Alexandria will vote for it.
And Fredericksburg-area residents can't vote at all on the Nov. 5 referendum to raise taxes in Northern Virginia to pay for transportation projects--but the outcome of the election will be felt here as much as anywhere else.
If the measure passes, the sales tax in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park, would increase by one-half percent.
In other words, the tax on a $50 sweater at the Ann Taylor outlet store at Potomac Mills would rise by 25 cents. So would the price of a nice dinner in Old Town Alexandria.
Groceries and medicines would not be taxed. Tax supporters say the measure would cost the average family about 25 cents per day.
The tax is estimated to generate $5 billion for regional transportation projects over the next 20 years. The tax would probably stay in place for about 38 years, or as long as it takes for the state to pay off bonds issued for some of the projects.
A similar measure in Hampton Roads would increase the sales tax 1 percent, raising about $7.5 billion for transportation efforts over the next two decades.
If the Northern Virginia referendum doesn't pass, the taxes don't increase. But officials in Richmond say that improvements to Interstates 95, 395 and 495 as well as a host of other projects simply won't be done.
Commuters to Washington and Northern Virginia are affected either way.
Supporters say the tax is necessary to prevent further gridlock on clogged roads and to improve public transit opportunities. The Virginia Railway Express would get $100 million for new rail cars if the measure passes.
"I don't favor higher taxes generally, but I think this is necessary," said Munson, a retired CIA employee and Alexandria resident for 46 years.
Though the tax is supported heavily by developers, road builders and other contractors, plenty of residents like Munson have sent $15 and $25 contributions to groups campaigning for the tax.
"This is the only thing I can see now for us to help ourselves," Munson said. "I think most of the opposition is ideological. In other words, 'We don't want to pay taxes.' The other pod is people who are just fixated on, 'We don't want to build roads. We want to build public transportation.'
"Actually, what we need is a balanced transportation system, but that takes time," Munson said. "We have to start someplace, and this seems like the place to do that."
Blakely, a lawyer and resident of Arlington for 11 years, agrees that transportation in Northern Virginia is in need of improvement. But, she said, citizens have already sent plenty of tax dollars down to Richmond for that purpose.
Politicians shouldn't be allowed to squander that money on other programs and then hit up taxpayers for more funds, she said.
"There are certain things governments are supposed to spend money on: safety, roads, schools. And what seems to be happening more and more down in Richmond is that's not where they're spending their money first," Blakely said. "It just seems to me instead of the government looking to stay within their budgets, they simply see voters and taxpayers as cash cows."
Blakely said she is not convinced that the list of projects supported by the tax will actually help solve any of Northern Virginia's transportation problems. And she's also worried that some of the funds raised in Northern Virginia will be siphoned off to other parts of the state.
Last week, Gov. Mark Warner created two accountability committees--one in Northern Virginia and one in Hampton Roads--to make sure the money raised in those regions stays in those regions.
Still, Blakely said she resents the poor fiscal planning in Richmond that has led to the referendum.
"You can't keep demanding taxpayers pay more, because we don't have it," she said.
For more information on the referendums in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, visit the Virginia State Board of Elections Web site at www.sbe.state.va.us/ Election and click on "2002 Proposed Regional Referenda."