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Will this new tax help? That's the question

Date published: 8/20/2008

YES, it's true that Stafford County could use more money, but shouldn't the first question addressed by Henry Scharpenburg in his 0p-ed supporting the Business Professional Occupational License tax ["Don't slam supervisors! Let's talk rationally," Aug. 14] have been, "How do we know that BPOL will result in a net gain in revenue?"

As many readers now know, at 3:30 a.m on July 2, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted to levy a new tax on the gross receipts of most businesses in Stafford.

The new tax will be collected in January 2010 and will be assessed on businesses gross receipts for the calendar year 2009. A $200,000 exemption applies to all gross receipts.

Also part of the 4-3 vote was that all proceeds from BPOL tax be dedicated to transportation, and not a penny to education or parks and recreation. The supervisors who voted in favor of this tax are Joe Brito (an Independent), George Schwartz (Democrat), Harry Crisp (Democrat), and Bob Woodson (Democrat).

Even though BPOL is now part of Stafford's tax code, it is not too late to correct this momentous mistake. In November of 2009, four supervisors' seats will be decided in elections. If three of those positions are filled by people opposed to BPOL, regardless of party affiliation, we can reverse this decision before its full detrimental effect is delivered to our economic welfare.

Let me set the scene for you that night. By the time the 7 p.m. Board of Supervisors session had begun, the largest crowd ever had assembled at the County Administration Building. The fire marshal stopped allowing people into the board chambers after around 160 people had arrived. The overflow was directed to other areas of the building where televisions were set up with live feeds to the board proceedings. Our fire marshal's count revealed that nearly 350 attendees had come to speak on the BPOL issue.

After a brief description of BPOL and a series of questions from board members, the hearing was open to the public. By the time the last speaker had spoken it was past 3 o'clock. Wednesday morning on July 2.

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Date published: 8/20/2008

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