No rich uncles in Virginia

Davon Gray
Published: March 10, 2008

I am beginning to believe that state lawmakers in Richmond see Virginia residents as rich uncles. 

Surely you know what a rich uncle is. The uncle — sometimes a relative of another title — is that person all the kids, and sometimes adults,  asked for a few dollars. Or, the “rich uncle,” voluntarily gave it because of his or her family status. But sometimes, especially if money was tight, even the rich uncle just didn’t have money to give.

That last sentence is the one I hope the Virginia State Senate will take to heart.

The State Senate is proposing that we — the rich uncle — fork out a three percent increase in gas taxes over three years and a .05 percent increase in car titling tax. 

But the giving spree — at our expense — doesn’t stop there. An additional tax of 40 cents for each $100 assessed value on the sale of a homes, and a $5 a night tax on hotel rooms, are also being proposed.

The proposed taxes are expected to bring in $550 million annually to state coffers. 

Now, I am not usually a miser about taxes. Some time ago, I even mentioned the inscription on the IRS building which says, “Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society.” 

But let me add a little on to that if I can. Excessive taxes are what we pay for a lack of long term planning and the belief that when the state needs money, they can just go to state residents and ask for more.  Nevermind the responsibilities we have which require all of us to stretch our own dollars — which are shrinking in value — like never before. 

It’s mind boggling when you think about it.

How can anyone propose increasing gas taxes in the midst of almost $4 a gallon gas prices, coupled with rising inflation? 

Or, tack on a $5 a night tax on hotel rooms when tourism is critical to our area, especially this time of year as we head towards the summer? 

And to top it all off, tack on an additional tax for trying to sell your home at a time when foreclosure signs are more common than sold signs on houses. 

Plus we are in an economic slow down — AKA a recession even if the experts won’t say it — but yet everyday we are told to save for our retirement, save for our children’s education, save for emergencies. Just save, save, save!

Just once, I would like our state officials to do what most of us have to do. When the money isn’t there, you have to spend less. I know in my house, probably like most of you, this means a very clear definition between what you need and what you want.

Even among the things you need, you have to be more efficient at getting it. For most of us, there are no rich uncles to borrow from so we make due. Our state government needs to start thinking that way. The money paid in taxes should only go to the needs (preferably in mass transit expansion and road maintenance) and not the wants of massive, long-winding new road projects. 

Now I know there are deficits in the transportation fund, especially in the area needed for road maintenance.

But taxpayers should not be the first to have to do the belt tightening. Pet projects that may have been a want instead of a need might have to be tabled or eliminated all together. 

Cutting back is not about some rigid ideology of the role of government or having some bias against a government agency. It is based upon a simple way of thinking that says: If belt tightening needs to happen, it should always start with the government not with cash strapped state residents.  That is how this rich uncle feels.

Davon Gray works as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and resides in Woodbridge. E-mail him at .