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Stafford County is considering a BPOL tax, which could offer relief for property owners.
MIKE MORONES/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
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Will the burden on residents be lightened?
BPOL for the People
Date published: 6/27/2008
ON JULY 1, 2008, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on a Business, Professional, and Occupational License tax. Of Virginia's 95 counties, 44 of them and all 39 Virginia towns and cities already have BPOL, so the opponent's argument that it kills business just doesn't hold water.
Both the city of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County have a BPOL. What do Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania know that Stafford doesn't? They know that national retail businesses expect to pay local taxes to support the infrastructure in localities. It is part of the cost of doing business, and it is only fair to expect the business community to share in the costs borne by local taxpayers for maintaining a very expensive infrastructure. After all, the business community makes millions of dollars selling to our residents.
The business community says that they will just raise prices to cover the costs. But wait: If you buy the same hamburger from the same fast-food chain restaurant in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, you pay the same amount. If you buy the same power drill from a chain hardware store in the three localities, you pay the same amount. The difference is that in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania the local governments capture part of that revenue that would otherwise go back to the home offices in other states. Why isn't Stafford doing this instead of always going after the homeowner every time the costs of government rise?
Another thing the opponents neglect to tell you is that BPOL will reap millions of dollars for Stafford County from people who do not live there but use its facilities. Whenever Stafford's residents travel, they use the existing infrastructure of the localities they pass through and visit. Likewise, people who come to Stafford use its infrastructure. All across this country, local governments find ways to capture various revenues from workers living outside their jurisdictions, as well as from travelers and visitors. Stafford residents pay when they travel. Shouldn't they expect visitors to contribute their fair share when they come here? It is good business sense on the part of the county and its residents to invest some money to bring in much more.
Date published: 6/27/2008
Most recent reader comments:
Paul Milde has called BPOL taxes regressive.
(posted by
kenderr
, June 28, 2008 9:33 am)
Get real, people!
(posted by
hpdomi
, June 27, 2008 8:08 pm)
MtMav & Obiwantheguy, let me have some of YOUR meds! Do you want water,sewer,schools,police,fire & rescue,parks,landfill,animal control,courts,planning commission? Do you want to vote? This county needs revenue.We NEED BPOL.The 3 BOS (Repubs) wanted a salary increase,swimming pools, etc. Please move somewhere else if you don't like it.
Rebuttal (part 5)
(posted by
MtMav
, June 27, 2008 12:30 pm)
at least 1 of the 14 taxes already being paid by business. Para. 9. It runs counterintuitive but want less business activity hence less rev.? Raise taxes or institute new ones. Para. 10. Mr. S., show me where you can spend the taxpayer's dime more prudently, cut the size + scope of gov. vice raising more rev. to feed its insatiable appetite. Additionally, it is best to cease playing the constituency warfare card ....... pitting prop owners v. business owners. As a prop owner only, I ain't buyin' it.
Rebuttal (part 4)
(posted by
MtMav
, June 27, 2008 12:18 pm)
services; not gov. Besides, buisnesses are currently paying 14 Staff Cnty imposed taxes now (not to mention Commonwealth + Fed). ENOUGH! Para 7. You wrote: "In fact, in 2006 commercial real estate taxes went down." You convienently (disengenuously?) forgot to add they went up 28% in 2007. Para 8. is a sad commentary on gov. that it must insitute BPOL to "allow the Com. of Rev. to track business thru lic. registration as well as increased compliance." That mechanism should already exist in (cont).
Rebuttal (part 3)
(posted by
MtMav
, June 27, 2008 12:06 pm)
..... Park + Rec bonds? Heim? Other? Para 6. Yikes! You wrote "..... those taxes are paid by someone else (the consumer, not business)." Exactly what will happen w BPOL ...... consumers (most of whom will be Staff residents) to business, most of whom will be compelled to raise prices, and then pass it on to gov. You further wrote: "To them (business), your money is there money and should count against their tax bill." True again! And it should be their money. They provided the goods or (cont)
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