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Stafford approves BPOL levy to help fund road improvements, ease tax burden on homeowners Date published: 7/3/2008
BY KAFIA HOSH A new business tax in Stafford County will help pay for improvements to the county's clogged roads. The Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 early yesterday morning to implement the Business, Professional and Occupational License Tax, despite objections from the business community. BPOL is a tax on business's gross receipts. The county will charge half the maximum rate allowed by state law, exempt the first $200,000 per business and cap the tax collected from each business at $150,000 a year. The new levy, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2010, will replace the merchants capital tax, which brought in about $830,000 in 2007. State law prohibits localities from charging both. The BPOL tax could generate an estimated $2.3 million to $2.6 million annually, according to Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky. Supervisors Cord Sterling, Paul Milde and Mark Dudenhefer voted against the tax. The entire board, however, agreed that revenue generated by BPOL will be used to upgrade county roads and help pay the debt service on a potential transportation bond. Sterling said roads are the county's top problem and using the tax to improve them "would at least help the business community in part." Critics of the levy argued that it's unfair because gross receipts don't factor in expenses. Hundreds of people, including several dozen business owners, attended a public hearing Tuesday night, filling the board chambers, lobby and a separate overflow room. Opponents urged supervisors to reject the tax, noting that commercial property owners along State Route 610 and U.S. 17 already are paying a service district tax to help fund road improvements in those areas. And Stafford business owners also are facing higher tax bills because of an average 28 percent increase in commercial property values during the recent reassessment. "There is no popular support for this tax," said Supervisor Milde, who owns a hardware company in the county. "I don't know where this is coming from. This is not the right time to do this." But BPOL supporters argued the levy will provide needed revenue that could fund county services such as the schools system, public safety and roads. And as the county cuts spending because of declining sales and real-estate tax revenue, BPOL could take some of the tax burden off homeowners, the proponents say.
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 7/3/2008
"Now they (the BOS?) need to fix how they tax business for inventory." I don't know what you meant by that as you were not specific. You do realize (???) however, that the Cnty currently imposes 14 ... repeat ... 14 business related taxes now never mind Commonwealth + Fed. taxes. Regressive BPOL is just another way the Dems attempt to tax their way to prosperity when in reality it only stiffles business activity. (No ulterior motive .... I am not a business owner). BPOL needs to be terminated.
You wrote below: "If you don't understand it (BPOL), then don't write about it ...... Every county in the state but two .... have BPOL." Oh? Really? You need to do some homework. Of 95 jurisdictions, 51 (the majority!) do *NOT* have BPOL. A few that do ....Faifax, Albemarle, other counties .... are looking to get rid of America's most unfair tax. (See my 2 posts below...."Details for hpdomi"). Perhaps it's you who should refrain from discussing something you don't understand. You further wrote (cont)
If you don't understand it, then don't speak about it. BPOL is nothing more than a business lisc tax. Every county but 2 in the state of VA already have BPOL. The businesses here have had a serious head start and the community has suffered, just look at the schools! Now they need to fix how they tax businesses for inventory, Stafford is seriously behind in dealing with the growth in the community, and it is either this or raise real estate taxes, Old boys club, it is time to be proactive, not reactive!
That's it... You made my business location decision for me... Adios Stafford. There goes the advantages I was seeking and the reason I looked here.
OBTW.. Come election day, better find another place to fill your time.. Because the supervisonrs that voted for BPOL will be BYE BYE.. The problem is they made htis decision because of EGO, notthing to do with what is good for the citizens.
Damn, Dean...an EXTRA 2 whole cents on my $10 haircut!!!! ...I guess I'll have to stop tipping $3..... Happy Birthday America. .... (Please don't sing the Happy Birthday song...Time-Warner Corporations own the rights to it and you may have to pay them.)
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