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Howell pitches Metro fix
House GOP wants to shift part of revenue from two different taxes to pump $50 million a year into Northern Virginia's portion of the Metro transit system.Date published: 9/23/2006 RICHMOND--House Republicans yesterday proposed taking part of recordation taxes and part of auto insurance premium taxes to raise $50 million a year for the Metro system in Northern Virginia. The proposal is part of the House Republicans' package of legislation for the transportation special session being held next week. The $50 million for Metro would provide Virginia's share of state funds to match $1.5 billion in federal funding, and would be used to help repair and maintain Metro's infrastructure. "The Metro system provides an essential component of Virginia's transportation system," said House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, speaking at a news conference yesterday. "House Republicans are prepared to step up and meet this challenge without taking the all-too-easy route of just raising taxes." The legislation House Republicans are submitting would dedicate for Metro $20 million a year from the auto insurance premium tax. Another bill would provide the other $30 million by increasing the portion of the recordation tax that is returned to localities. House Appropriations Committee staffers said about $40 million a year now goes to localities from that tax; the bill would increase that to $100 million, of which $30 million would be Northern Virginia's portion. The recordation tax brings in about $600 million a year. Del. Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax, called the plan a "leap forward" in providing Metro funding. "It is sustainable, it is long term," he said, referring to the Senate's requirement that new transportation funding be both of those things. Legislators of both houses are returning to Richmond next week for a transportation session. House Republican leaders remain adamant that there is no need to raise new funds for transportation, saying they can carve money for transportation out of the existing $73 billion budget. "We feel that the general fund is specifically designed for the core responsibilities of the commonwealth," Howell said. "What could be more core than transportation?" Howell has already announced a package of bills designed to reform the Virginia Department of Transportation, and has bills regarding land-use policies that he said will be announced before the session begins Wednesday. To reach CHELYEN DAVIS:
Date published: 9/23/2006
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