Anonymous wrote:

Everyone in the community benefits from good schools

Agree with this statement. But, you are basing this on a false assumption--i.e. more money guarantees good schools.

If that were the case, all of our Title I schools would be doing great!

When FCPS shows good stewardship of the funds, I will vote for more taxes. Right now, they have not shown good stewardship. They have many programs, etc, that cost money and have very little value. They spend money on administrative things that do not translate to better instruction. They have unnecessary votes that will result in greater expenses.

Exactly. And pp admitted earlier that City of Alexandria public schools have the meals tax, but nobody wants their kids in the public schools there. But not because they are bad, but because City of Alexandria is full of racists and classists. So I guess the people living in City of Alexandria aren't seeing the benefits of the meals tax. Or maybe the meals tax isn't doing enough, maybe they should increase it and tax more!

Anonymous wrote:So one proposal is a meals tax.

Another is to double the minimum wage.

http://fairfaxnews.com/2015/01/house-bill-raise-virginias-minimum-wage-15-15/

So you guys think that you can force restaurants' prices up, and their labor costs up, and not affect either profitability or employment?

This is why you can't have nice things.

just made my day!

Anonymous wrote:By Law, Fairfax County must provide 51% of it budget to public schools. That is a fixed cost. It cannot be reduced. In fact, demand for public education is up as the school population grows. Since Fairfax County cannot influence teh influx of students into its schools, it needs to raise funds to accomodate them, hire teachers, etc. Everyone in the community benefits from good schools. As to doubling the minimum, most restaurants pay around $2.50 per hour. Wait staff rely on tips to make up the difference. There are restaurants that are upending this model, increasing wages and doing away with tips. http://freakonomics.com/podcast/danny-meyer/

Quit posting lies!!! Servers get that rate. SOME servers. The ones who earn tips. Hostesses, cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, cashiers, and fast food/carry out restaurant employees (chipotle, panera etc) get paid a lot more. You are purposely trying to mislead people.

Everyone in the community benefits from good schools

Agree with this statement. But, you are basing this on a false assumption--i.e. more money guarantees good schools.

If that were the case, all of our Title I schools would be doing great!

When FCPS shows good stewardship of the funds, I will vote for more taxes. Right now, they have not shown good stewardship. They have many programs, etc, that cost money and have very little value. They spend money on administrative things that do not translate to better instruction. They have unnecessary votes that will result in greater expenses.

By Law, Fairfax County must provide 51% of it budget to public schools. That is a fixed cost. It cannot be reduced. In fact, demand for public education is up as the school population grows. Since Fairfax County cannot influence teh influx of students into its schools, it needs to raise funds to accomodate them, hire teachers, etc. Everyone in the community benefits from good schools. As to doubling the minimum, most restaurants pay around $2.50 per hour. Wait staff rely on tips to make up the difference. There are restaurants that are upending this model, increasing wages and doing away with tips. http://freakonomics.com/podcast/danny-meyer/

So one proposal is a meals tax.

Another is to double the minimum wage.

http://fairfaxnews.com/2015/01/house-bill-raise-virginias-minimum-wage-15-15/

So you guys think that you can force restaurants' prices up, and their labor costs up, and not affect either profitability or employment?

This is why you can't have nice things.

That's for sure.....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, a meals tax would pernanently reduce the real estate tax rate by three or four cents. It's a self imposed tax that is optional, unlike property tax. It stays in the jurisdiction in which it is collected. And it is one of the few, perhaps the only, taxes that the General Assembly authorizes the county to levy. Also, a meals tax has the visitors from outside the county contributing. We would also be getting diversified taxation bringing the real estate tax rate more in line with neighboring counties.

But that's not the proposal. This is an additional tax. They'll just spend every penny of it and claim they need more. We've seen this movie before.

You don't know that. It could very well be the proposal. They do talk about diversifying taxes, so the real estate tax rate should go down next year if they mean what they say.

The real estate rate may go down, but the amount of real estate taxes collected will not go down.

The amount can certainly go down if the meals tax is approved. Not for this year, but for next.

You're delusional.

The amount can certainly go down if the meals tax is approved. Not for this year, but for next.

Please cite the source that says they plan to lower the real estate tax. This is additional. Period.

Anonymous wrote:I really can't imagine that a meals tax will keep those who eat out from going out to eat.

If someone is really "poor", they probably should be preparing meals at home rather than eating out at Chipotle or Noodles 'n Company.

Right. Just like the people who use their EBT cards to buy junk food. Selfish and pathetic, isn't it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, a meals tax would pernanently reduce the real estate tax rate by three or four cents. It's a self imposed tax that is optional, unlike property tax. It stays in the jurisdiction in which it is collected. And it is one of the few, perhaps the only, taxes that the General Assembly authorizes the county to levy. Also, a meals tax has the visitors from outside the county contributing. We would also be getting diversified taxation bringing the real estate tax rate more in line with neighboring counties.

But that's not the proposal. This is an additional tax. They'll just spend every penny of it and claim they need more. We've seen this movie before.

You don't know that. It could very well be the proposal. They do talk about diversifying taxes, so the real estate tax rate should go down next year if they mean what they say.

The real estate rate may go down, but the amount of real estate taxes collected will not go down.

The amount can certainly go down if the meals tax is approved. Not for this year, but for next.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, a meals tax would pernanently reduce the real estate tax rate by three or four cents. It's a self imposed tax that is optional, unlike property tax. It stays in the jurisdiction in which it is collected. And it is one of the few, perhaps the only, taxes that the General Assembly authorizes the county to levy. Also, a meals tax has the visitors from outside the county contributing. We would also be getting diversified taxation bringing the real estate tax rate more in line with neighboring counties.

But that's not the proposal. This is an additional tax. They'll just spend every penny of it and claim they need more. We've seen this movie before.

You don't know that. It could very well be the proposal. They do talk about diversifying taxes, so the real estate tax rate should go down next year if they mean what they say.

I do know that. They already voted on the proposal. It's public. It's an ADITIONAL tax!

When they raised the sales tax from 5 to 6 percent to fix the roads, did it?
When they voted to raise the real estate tax rate to fully fund schools, did they?

A definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

Anonymous wrote:Short-term, this might hurt poor people a little more than rich people. But long-term, great public schools are the ONLY way to break a cycle of poverty. I'm voting yes.

What makes you think these extra taxes will result in "great public schools"?

You're voting yes? Then vote with your wallet and start sending your extra money to the Fairfax County Treasury right away. Don't wait, just start doing it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In theory, a meals tax would pernanently reduce the real estate tax rate by three or four cents. It's a self imposed tax that is optional, unlike property tax. It stays in the jurisdiction in which it is collected. And it is one of the few, perhaps the only, taxes that the General Assembly authorizes the county to levy. Also, a meals tax has the visitors from outside the county contributing. We would also be getting diversified taxation bringing the real estate tax rate more in line with neighboring counties.

But that's not the proposal. This is an additional tax. They'll just spend every penny of it and claim they need more. We've seen this movie before.

You don't know that. It could very well be the proposal. They do talk about diversifying taxes, so the real estate tax rate should go down next year if they mean what they say.

The real estate rate may go down, but the amount of real estate taxes collected will not go down.

I really can't imagine that a meals tax will keep those who eat out from going out to eat.

If someone is really "poor", they probably should be preparing meals at home rather than eating out at Chipotle or Noodles 'n Company.