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Celebrate Virginia North is shown in its initial stages. It is zoned for 'offices in a park-like setting.'
ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
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Potential tax revenue? Spotsy and Stafford should be so lucky
Date published: 4/15/2008
I was amazed to see that a March 27 letter-writer would still be so misinformed about the evolution of the city's largest economic development project ["Why not the original plan for Celebrate?"].
The writer bemoaned the fact that the city's portion of Celebrate Virginia had originally been planned for "office buildings in a campus-like setting" and that it had changed to the current tourism campus.
That's simply not true. After annexation, the land was originally planned for more than 2,200 homes.
Once the Silver Cos. acquired the property, it was rezoned for commercial and tourism-related businesses.
This zoning was done 10 years ago at the request of a City Council eager to find income for the city that would relieve the burden on homeowners.
The writer should not be dismayed, because the Silver Cos. actually did designate almost one-half of the massive Celebrate Virginia project for "offices in a park-like setting." That is what most of Celebrate Virginia North in Stafford County is zoned and planned for.
And has the writer ventured out to Celebrate Virginia North lately? If so, he would see only a couple of small office buildings, not because it's a bad project but because the office market in metro Washington hasn't moved this far south yet.
Even if Stafford's corporate office campus at Celebrate Virginia were fully developed, it wouldn't begin to create the tax income that will be generated by the tourism campus in Fredericksburg.
I'm sure the supervisors in Stafford and Spotsylvania would love to have the city's problem--deciding whether to accept a $225 million project that will generate $6 million annually in tax revenues.
Robert L. Dodd Jr.
Spotsylvania
Date published: 4/15/2008
Most recent reader comments:
here is a thought!
(posted by
Justice1
, Apr. 16, 2008 5:14 pm)
lets just tax stupid people. Face it, they dont have the brains to challenge the speding of the government. Furthermore, they think it is the governments responsibility to take care of everyone at any cost, so the amount of tax doesnt matter as long as everyone get taken care of. Also they dont understand much about tax and economics anyway. Send them a bill, they will blindly pay it.
Stafford Need BPOL
(posted by
asyla
, Apr. 16, 2008 1:33 pm)
I have been a resident of Stafford for over 10 years and have watched how quickly the county is growing. So fast that the infastructure has not caught up with the growing population. New businesses have tripled and they should be taxed. Many business owners don't even get a license and find Stafford quite comfortable with no BPOL. Impose the BPOL and get the businesses to help fund our county budget instead of putting it on the burden on our homeowners and residents.
BPOL is a tax deductable expense
(posted by
DeanFetterolf
, Apr. 15, 2008 6:23 pm)
BPOL like any other business expense is tax deductible. The 1st $100k in gross receipts is usually exempt.. Without BPOL Stafford County doesn't even know how many outside, transient businesses or sub contractors operate here.
Stop "feeding the beast", MtMav?
(posted by
Chiswald
, Apr. 15, 2008 10:00 am)
The "beast" you are starving is the already underpaid teacher who is foregoing a cost of living increase for the privilege of educating your children. The beast is the sheriff's deputy risking his life to keep your family safe. The beast is the EMT keeping you alive and the sanitation worker sorting your trash at the recycling center. Stafford has allowed under-proffered development for decades with the expectation that property taxes will cover the bill. They don't. BPOL will help. Other counties do it.
Stafford BPOL tax is needed - NOW
(posted by
WeimCity
, Apr. 15, 2008 8:26 am)
MtMav and USA2007, please get your facts straight. Does Stafford residents receive any price breaks on purchases from grocery or retail stores when buying in the county? Compare prices and the outlying BPOL taxed places - I do not see any cost savings. The only thing I see is additional personal taxes while spending the same to get what I want. Stafford needs the BPOL tax revenue as well as knowing what businesses are operating in Stafford. BPOL has more benefits than just taxes. BOS pass it please
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