How to make an inforned decision on Fairfax county meal tax referendum?

[Anonymous]

So someone posted Vote yes to the meal tax question, saying it will support schools and provide real estate property tax relief.

I perked up, since I will have a child in FFX county system in 2 years and I am already sick and tired of the real estate property taxes going up the past few years.

But then I started to google things and found this article.

It's pretty convincing.

[Anonymous]

You forgot the link

[Anonymous]

I am a Trump voter but will support the meal tax. We need to pay our teachers more. But there doesn't seem to be any other solution to make that happen.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]So someone posted Vote yes to the meal tax question, saying it will support schools and provide real estate property tax relief.

I perked up, since I will have a child in FFX county system in 2 years and I am already sick and tired of the real estate property taxes going up the past few years.

But then I started to google things and found this article.

It's pretty convincing.

[/quote]

http://www.insidenova.com/news/business/fairfax/updated-fairfax-to-put-meals-tax-on-november-ballot/article_e54a60e8-1e9e-11e6-b192-636127702528.html

It says they might provide relief to seniors or disabled people. Might. Meaning it might not go to them. Let alone myself, who is neither a senior or disabled.

I was also disappointed to read that FFX county budgets basically doubled for only 22% increase in enrollment. So I'm about to vote no on the meal tax. But is that article reliable? What am I missing? What kind of impact will voting No have on the school system? I mean, of all things to fund, that sounds harmless, even if I have to pay more to dine out.

Apart from googling random news articles and the ffx gov website and the website of the two main groups for it and against it, how do I learn more?

Also, can anyone enlighten me what it means that of the 4% tax, 3 percent will be used to reimburse the restaurants for cost of administering this? I hope they are saying 3% of the projected revenue of 100 million right, not 3% as in 3/4 of the tax will go for admin costs to restsurants and only 1% to ffx?

[Anonymous]

Did you not see the big SaveFCPS campaign last year? This is the result of that. Vote Yes to save FCPS. On the school website, there are detailed budget documents, showing current expenses, where the new budget is to be spent, etc. It's all there.

[Anonymous]

Re 3%:

Where will the funds go?
Three percent (3%) of the funds will be used to pay administrative fees to the restaurants, the remaining funds will be divided as follows:
70 percent of the net revenues would be dedicated to Fairfax County Public Schools.
30 percent of the net revenues would be dedicated to county services (Fire and Rescue, Libraries, Parks, Public Health and Arts); capital improvements and property tax relief.

[Anonymous]

No vote from me. Also a NO vote on the almost $750 MILLION (total) in new debt they want to take out. I guess they don't realize that, at some point, they will have to pay that money back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you not see the big SaveFCPS campaign last year? This is the result of that. Vote Yes to save FCPS. On the school website, there are detailed budget documents, showing current expenses, where the new budget is to be spent, etc. It's all there.

Do you feel the school website is going to provide you with an objective view? Of course they're going to want you to vote yes, they get even more $$$$.

[Anonymous]

No. If FFX County was not a sanctuary city by choice, they would not need all this extra cash. End of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No vote from me. Also a NO vote on the almost $750 MILLION (total) in new debt they want to take out. I guess they don't realize that, at some point, they will have to pay that money back.

+ 1 Wasn't there already a major tax increase this year? This is so typical of the tax-and-spend Democrats. No accountability for how they soend money (e.g., $6 billion missing from State), just more....more.....more.

And as far as teachers needing more money, that's a reflection of how out-of-touch the DCUMers are in terms of what a good salary is. I have two friends who are teachers, and both are making $90k. That's more than I make - and they get summers off on top of it, plus of course Chirstmas and Easter breaks.

So, teachers earning comfortsble salaries want more, and we are going to make the elderly on fixed incomes of $30k or so (not everyone has a rich government pension) pay for it by increasing their meal costs?

I'm voting no.

[Anonymous]

I'm voting yes, because it's an optional tax. You don't have to go out to eat. Much better than the less-optional RE and car taxes.

Hopefully they will use the money appropriately (but that's a concern whatever tax they use).

[Anonymous]

Similar thing with the Chicago teachers. Their AVERAGE salary is $78,000 - plus all that free time off - and they scream for raises, too. And what about the benefits? They contribute something like 2% to their pension, while I get no pension and just have to save with a 401k.

Plus, the medical benefits as retirees. I was complaining to a retired teacher friend of mine (MoCo) about the fact that Obamacare won't cover my PT (which will cost me THOUSANDS), and she said....I know how you feel. I have a $20 co-pay, and I'm going to end up paying over $100 for my PT." I didn't argue with her, but merely said, "wow. I wish all I had to pay was $20!" I really don't think teachers know how well compensated they are - either during their career or during retirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Similar thing with the Chicago teachers. Their AVERAGE salary is $78,000 - plus all that free time off - and they scream for raises, too. And what about the benefits? They contribute something like 2% to their pension, while I get no pension and just have to save with a 401k.

Plus, the medical benefits as retirees. I was complaining to a retired teacher friend of mine (MoCo) about the fact that Obamacare won't cover my PT (which will cost me THOUSANDS), and she said....I know how you feel. I have a $20 co-pay, and I'm going to end up paying over $100 for my PT." I didn't argue with her, but merely said, "wow. I wish all I had to pay was $20!" I really don't think teachers know how well compensated they are - either during their career or during retirement.

Fairfax pays comparatively lower than other districts in Virginia, DC, and Maryland. Benefits for teachers are state mandated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm voting yes, because it's an optional tax. You don't have to go out to eat. Much better than the less-optional RE and car taxes.

Hopefully they will use the money appropriately (but that's a concern whatever tax they use).

My concern lies more with the elderly - especially single elderly. You can't expect them to always prepare cooked meals, and they enjoy the ease of packaged dinners from the grocery store, or modest meals out - like IHOP and Silver Diner. (Look around in one.)

The hardest hit people are retirees in their early 60s, often forced out of their last jobs and too young for Medicare. They have out-of-control medical costs, and now you're going to raise their meals tax, also, because Democrats can't get a handle in their spending?

Finally, I imagine a big chunk of the increased costs results from having to educate the illegal immigrants. Crack down on the border, and watch the costs of education drop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm voting yes, because it's an optional tax. You don't have to go out to eat. Much better than the less-optional RE and car taxes.

Hopefully they will use the money appropriately (but that's a concern whatever tax they use).

My concern lies more with the elderly - especially single elderly. You can't expect them to always prepare cooked meals, and they enjoy the ease of packaged dinners from the grocery store, or modest meals out - like IHOP and Silver Diner. (Look around in one.)

The hardest hit people are retirees in their early 60s, often forced out of their last jobs and too young for Medicare. They have out-of-control medical costs, and now you're going to raise their meals tax, also, because Democrats can't get a handle in their spending?

Finally, I imagine a big chunk of the increased costs results from having to educate the illegal immigrants. Crack down on the border, and watch the costs of education drop.

Every other jurisdiction around has a meals tax.