Maryland.

You need easy access to more and better private schools

The publics trash everywhere

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those freaking out about Va taxes, are simply catastrophizing. Unless you make more than 600,000 per year when the first new marginal tax rate begins or more than 1 million per year where the second new marginal rate kicks in, you will be largely unaffected by this.

Not true. New taxes on services will affect everyone.

I am already seeing this, I just noticed extra Fairfax meal tax on my order picking up acai bowl. I looked through my history and this only appeared on my last 2 orders suddenly and quietly. There is a standard sales tax, and a new "fairfax county meal tax". Will there be more?

I’m a moderate who’s voted Republican recently and there’s so much bad info here on the tax stuff. Not sure how I’m the one correcting it but here we are.

The Fairfax meal tax has NOTHING to do with the new state legislature and/or Spanberger. It’s Fairfax saying we need more tax revenue because of (insert excuse — Trump if you’re a Dem, irresponsible fiscal spending if you’re an R).

The new taxes the state legislature DID want to pass - on income, investments, and services (Uber eats, dry cleaning, fitness, dog grooming, etc) - all died in committee and aren’t being pushed forward.

It appears that you misread that person's post


She did not blame the state legislature for the Fairfax meals tax.

She explicitly stated it was a new Fairfax tax.

The last time anyone checked, Fairfax County is in Virginia, not Maryland.

Her comment is no different than if someone stated "Maryland has too many taxes. Look at that new Montgomery County dog park tax" (or whatever ridiculous tax a government could come up with.)

This. Thank you for explaining this. The point I was trying to make is that VA is not immune from whatever little local taxes counties can enforce that MD residents or those trying to avoid MD are complaining about. The entire region pretty much has similar problems when it comes to increased taxation without much improvement, school rezoning fears, traffic, cost of living, vagrancy and crime, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those freaking out about Va taxes, are simply catastrophizing. Unless you make more than 600,000 per year when the first new marginal tax rate begins or more than 1 million per year where the second new marginal rate kicks in, you will be largely unaffected by this.

Not true. New taxes on services will affect everyone.

I am already seeing this, I just noticed extra Fairfax meal tax on my order picking up acai bowl. I looked through my history and this only appeared on my last 2 orders suddenly and quietly. There is a standard sales tax, and a new "fairfax county meal tax". Will there be more?

I’m a moderate who’s voted Republican recently and there’s so much bad info here on the tax stuff. Not sure how I’m the one correcting it but here we are.

The Fairfax meal tax has NOTHING to do with the new state legislature and/or Spanberger. It’s Fairfax saying we need more tax revenue because of (insert excuse — Trump if you’re a Dem, irresponsible fiscal spending if you’re an R).

The new taxes the state legislature DID want to pass - on income, investments, and services (Uber eats, dry cleaning, fitness, dog grooming, etc) - all died in committee and aren’t being pushed forward.

It appears that you misread that person's post


She did not blame the state legislature for the Fairfax meals tax.

She explicitly stated it was a new Fairfax tax.

The last time anyone checked, Fairfax County is in Virginia, not Maryland.

Her comment is no different than if someone stated "Maryland has too many taxes. Look at that new Montgomery County dog park tax" (or whatever ridiculous tax a government could come up with.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others have alluded, for the longest time VA's advantage was that it was a centrist state compared to deep blue MD. It's gone from a centrist lean red to a centrist lean blue, but the recent election has revealed a sharp blue turn, with a state government that is going to behave a lot more like Annapolis, with lots of higher taxes and fees and inefficient / bloated spending and having to pay for it. I am not thrilled as I liked VA being centrist. Is it temporary or an indicator for the future? Who knows.

But will say VA has the superior state university system. Well worth having it as your default option. I'd still pick VA for this reason alone.

It's a huge reason for many people. Also VA can swing politically again if this administration keeps spending like bandits without people noticing any improvements but with the addition of very noticeable taxes. Governors get re-elected. If she intends to do away with the car tax in favor of these consumption service taxes then it may be ok

Virginia will not swing to moderation.

They are pushing through with repealing the VA constitution clause to gerrymander the state, with one of the most gerrymandered maps in the country. And before you say "but Texas" if you look at the before and after Texas maps side by side, the new Texas map is actually more compact and less gerrymandered than the original, especially once you balance for the outlying areas between San Antonio and El Paso, and the border districts in south Texas where the towns are hours apart and huge swatches of land are nothing but wasteland.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask the people in North Bethesda and Rockville, which have houses in OP's price range, how they feel about the proposal in MCPS to reassign them to a new school that has a substantially higher percentage of low-income kids who aren't fluent in English than their current school.

They don't seem too happy about it. Virginia politicians seem more cautious when it comes to major changes that would drive upper middle class families away.

The boundaries for WJ and Woodward were designed to keep as many upper class families in MoCo as possible. The way you keep upper class families in MoCo is to have one really great school serving the neighborhoods where upper middle class people are concentrated (WJ) and one mediocre school (Woodward), not to have two mediocre schools. MoCo is actually incredibly savvy on these issues, and always has been, which is why it's the premier school system in this region. They actually minimized the number of upset parents by doing it this way.

As for boundary issues generally, you should visit the schools forums on this board to see that they are not unique to MoCo. Fairfax, Arlington, and every jurisdiction deals with these issues, and they're a constant source of frustration and uncertainty for parents. And those school systems have a ton of frustrated parents -- e.g., lots of North Arlington parents recently abandoned the public schools.

This is an impressive effort to spin but we all know it’s disingenuous. MCPS has a smaller number and percentage of sought-after schools than APS and FCPS, and that percentage will go down further by adding Woodward to the mix as a high-FARMS school while the number of students attending low-FARMS WJ declines significantly. It’s the sort of thing you do if you are indifferent to the preferences of UMC families.

But, again, nice try.

APS is a total joke, and the North Arlington families who can afford privates have gone that route. FCPS is better but definitely not superior to MCPS. By your own admission, MCPS has made WJ even more desirable than before by reducing the number of poor people who go there. And of course Whitman, Churchill, and Wootton have always been among the most elite in the country. I understand the jealously from the Virginia people who just can't bear the fact that MCPS is so good, but spreading falsehoods just shows the desperation.

APS compares favorably with most of the MCPS schools, and the "W" schools in MCPS are no better than, and by some metrics now inferior to, the top schools in FCPS.

The purported benefits of reducing the number of poor kids at WJ are outweighed by the fact that WJ is shrinking and Woodward is already not seen as desirable. Whitman and Churchill are comparable to Langley and McLean, but Wootton is in trouble - the current building is falling apart, the proposal by MCPS leadership to move most of the kids to a different building in Gaithersburg is highly unpopular, and there was a school shooting there just this week. And what MCPS really lacks are the large number of additional schools that are very strong found in APS and FCPS.

Moreover, the STEM magnet in FCPS, which APS students also attend, is much larger and stronger than the STEM programs embedded within a few high schools in MCPS. Here, too, MCPS is floundering, with proposals to replace current programs with regional programs that most in the county acknowledge won't be nearly as good, even if they serve Taylor's agenda to appease his BoE overlords.

Anonymous wrote:Ask the people in North Bethesda and Rockville, which have houses in OP's price range, how they feel about the proposal in MCPS to reassign them to a new school that has a substantially higher percentage of low-income kids who aren't fluent in English than their current school.

They don't seem too happy about it. Virginia politicians seem more cautious when it comes to major changes that would drive upper middle class families away.

We were looking at houses in North Bethesda because of the price range, decent house sizes and GOOD schools (WJ), but now we don’t know what to do because of the school boundary changes. We don’t want to pay WJ prices for houses slated for Woodward. So the question is do we settle for a much smaller house located in the WJ boundary (with the risk of future boundary changes) or be ok with better houses located in the Woodward district, since we don’t know how things will go (maybe Woodward will be fine). Even typing this makes me feel like a wishful thinking fool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those freaking out about Va taxes, are simply catastrophizing. Unless you make more than 600,000 per year when the first new marginal tax rate begins or more than 1 million per year where the second new marginal rate kicks in, you will be largely unaffected by this.

Not true. New taxes on services will affect everyone.

I am already seeing this, I just noticed extra Fairfax meal tax on my order picking up acai bowl. I looked through my history and this only appeared on my last 2 orders suddenly and quietly. There is a standard sales tax, and a new "fairfax county meal tax". Will there be more?

I’m a moderate who’s voted Republican recently and there’s so much bad info here on the tax stuff. Not sure how I’m the one correcting it but here we are.

The Fairfax meal tax has NOTHING to do with the new state legislature and/or Spanberger. It’s Fairfax saying we need more tax revenue because of (insert excuse — Trump if you’re a Dem, irresponsible fiscal spending if you’re an R).

The new taxes the state legislature DID want to pass - on income, investments, and services (Uber eats, dry cleaning, fitness, dog grooming, etc) - all died in committee and aren’t being pushed forward.

If you voted for Sears…a total f**king loser nut job…you aren’t a moderate…but you know that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask the people in North Bethesda and Rockville, which have houses in OP's price range, how they feel about the proposal in MCPS to reassign them to a new school that has a substantially higher percentage of low-income kids who aren't fluent in English than their current school.

They don't seem too happy about it. Virginia politicians seem more cautious when it comes to major changes that would drive upper middle class families away.

The boundaries for WJ and Woodward were designed to keep as many upper class families in MoCo as possible. The way you keep upper class families in MoCo is to have one really great school serving the neighborhoods where upper middle class people are concentrated (WJ) and one mediocre school (Woodward), not to have two mediocre schools. MoCo is actually incredibly savvy on these issues, and always has been, which is why it's the premier school system in this region. They actually minimized the number of upset parents by doing it this way.

As for boundary issues generally, you should visit the schools forums on this board to see that they are not unique to MoCo. Fairfax, Arlington, and every jurisdiction deals with these issues, and they're a constant source of frustration and uncertainty for parents. And those school systems have a ton of frustrated parents -- e.g., lots of North Arlington parents recently abandoned the public schools.

This is an impressive effort to spin but we all know it’s disingenuous. MCPS has a smaller number and percentage of sought-after schools than APS and FCPS, and that percentage will go down further by adding Woodward to the mix as a high-FARMS school while the number of students attending low-FARMS WJ declines significantly. It’s the sort of thing you do if you are indifferent to the preferences of UMC families.

But, again, nice try.

APS is a total joke, and the North Arlington families who can afford privates have gone that route. FCPS is better but definitely not superior to MCPS. By your own admission, MCPS has made WJ even more desirable than before by reducing the number of poor people who go there. And of course Whitman, Churchill, and Wootton have always been among the most elite in the country. I understand the jealously from the Virginia people who just can't bear the fact that MCPS is so good, but spreading falsehoods just shows the desperation.

Its hard to predict the future. Live near your job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask the people in North Bethesda and Rockville, which have houses in OP's price range, how they feel about the proposal in MCPS to reassign them to a new school that has a substantially higher percentage of low-income kids who aren't fluent in English than their current school.

They don't seem too happy about it. Virginia politicians seem more cautious when it comes to major changes that would drive upper middle class families away.

The boundaries for WJ and Woodward were designed to keep as many upper class families in MoCo as possible. The way you keep upper class families in MoCo is to have one really great school serving the neighborhoods where upper middle class people are concentrated (WJ) and one mediocre school (Woodward), not to have two mediocre schools. MoCo is actually incredibly savvy on these issues, and always has been, which is why it's the premier school system in this region. They actually minimized the number of upset parents by doing it this way.

As for boundary issues generally, you should visit the schools forums on this board to see that they are not unique to MoCo. Fairfax, Arlington, and every jurisdiction deals with these issues, and they're a constant source of frustration and uncertainty for parents. And those school systems have a ton of frustrated parents -- e.g., lots of North Arlington parents recently abandoned the public schools.

This is an impressive effort to spin but we all know it’s disingenuous. MCPS has a smaller number and percentage of sought-after schools than APS and FCPS, and that percentage will go down further by adding Woodward to the mix as a high-FARMS school while the number of students attending low-FARMS WJ declines significantly. It’s the sort of thing you do if you are indifferent to the preferences of UMC families.

But, again, nice try.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those freaking out about Va taxes, are simply catastrophizing. Unless you make more than 600,000 per year when the first new marginal tax rate begins or more than 1 million per year where the second new marginal rate kicks in, you will be largely unaffected by this.

Well, we've always been told that VA is much better if you have a very high income, so now that advantage will be gone. If you're not a very high earner, the difference between MD and VA has never been very significant, because VA has the car tax, the grocery tax, and crazy restaurant taxes, plus VA has toll roads everywhere especially for people like OP who have budgets that make them like further out.

If you're a very high earner and you're worried about the couple hundred dollars at most these new taxes will cost you, then you have serious psychological issues and should seek professional help. It's not normal or healthy to be obsessing over such an insignificant amount of money.

lol it’s always “such an insignificant amount of money” when it’s not coming out of your paycheck!

Anonymous wrote:Ask the people in North Bethesda and Rockville, which have houses in OP's price range, how they feel about the proposal in MCPS to reassign them to a new school that has a substantially higher percentage of low-income kids who aren't fluent in English than their current school.

They don't seem too happy about it. Virginia politicians seem more cautious when it comes to major changes that would drive upper middle class families away.

The boundaries for WJ and Woodward were designed to keep as many upper class families in MoCo as possible. The way you keep upper class families in MoCo is to have one really great school serving the neighborhoods where upper middle class people are concentrated (WJ) and one mediocre school (Woodward), not to have two mediocre schools. MoCo is actually incredibly savvy on these issues, and always has been, which is why it's the premier school system in this region. They actually minimized the number of upset parents by doing it this way.

As for boundary issues generally, you should visit the schools forums on this board to see that they are not unique to MoCo. Fairfax, Arlington, and every jurisdiction deals with these issues, and they're a constant source of frustration and uncertainty for parents. And those school systems have a ton of frustrated parents -- e.g., lots of North Arlington parents recently abandoned the public schools.

Anonymous wrote:Ask the people in North Bethesda and Rockville, which have houses in OP's price range, how they feel about the proposal in MCPS to reassign them to a new school that has a substantially higher percentage of low-income kids who aren't fluent in English than their current school.

They don't seem too happy about it. Virginia politicians seem more cautious when it comes to major changes that would drive upper middle class families away.

Yes, in that area and we are actually moving because of the school boundary decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those freaking out about Va taxes, are simply catastrophizing. Unless you make more than 600,000 per year when the first new marginal tax rate begins or more than 1 million per year where the second new marginal rate kicks in, you will be largely unaffected by this.

Not true. New taxes on services will affect everyone.

I am already seeing this, I just noticed extra Fairfax meal tax on my order picking up acai bowl. I looked through my history and this only appeared on my last 2 orders suddenly and quietly. There is a standard sales tax, and a new "fairfax county meal tax". Will there be more?

I’m a moderate who’s voted Republican recently and there’s so much bad info here on the tax stuff. Not sure how I’m the one correcting it but here we are.

The Fairfax meal tax has NOTHING to do with the new state legislature and/or Spanberger. It’s Fairfax saying we need more tax revenue because of (insert excuse — Trump if you’re a Dem, irresponsible fiscal spending if you’re an R).

The new taxes the state legislature DID want to pass - on income, investments, and services (Uber eats, dry cleaning, fitness, dog grooming, etc) - all died in committee and aren’t being pushed forward.

Thank you for speaking up against misinformation. It takes a village.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those freaking out about Va taxes, are simply catastrophizing. Unless you make more than 600,000 per year when the first new marginal tax rate begins or more than 1 million per year where the second new marginal rate kicks in, you will be largely unaffected by this.

Not true. New taxes on services will affect everyone.

I am already seeing this, I just noticed extra Fairfax meal tax on my order picking up acai bowl. I looked through my history and this only appeared on my last 2 orders suddenly and quietly. There is a standard sales tax, and a new "fairfax county meal tax". Will there be more?

I’m a moderate who’s voted Republican recently and there’s so much bad info here on the tax stuff. Not sure how I’m the one correcting it but here we are.

The Fairfax meal tax has NOTHING to do with the new state legislature and/or Spanberger. It’s Fairfax saying we need more tax revenue because of (insert excuse — Trump if you’re a Dem, irresponsible fiscal spending if you’re an R).

The new taxes the state legislature DID want to pass - on income, investments, and services (Uber eats, dry cleaning, fitness, dog grooming, etc) - all died in committee and aren’t being pushed forward.

State level stuff may have died in the committee, but counties can still sneak this stuff in... And Fairfax did:

"
Effective January 1, 2026, Fairfax County imposes a 4% "Food and Beverage Tax" (commonly called a meals tax) on prepared meals and drinks, bringing total sales tax on dining to 10% when combined with the state's 6% rate. This 4% tax applies to restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and deli items intended for immediate consumption.
Key Details for 2026
Rate: 4% added to the purchase price of prepared food and beverages.
Applicability: Applies to dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering.
Exclusions: Does not apply to groceries, convenience items, or in the towns of Clifton, Herndon, Vienna, or the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, which have their own separate tax regulations.
Purpose: The revenue, estimated at $67 million, supports the county budget and aims to reduce reliance on property taxes.
The tax was approved to address budgetary challenges, forcing a change in how prepared food is taxed throughout the county.
"

Notice how vague they are on how these taxes will be used. Will it freeze or lower property taxes? of course, not. It's extra tax on consumption of prepared meals, which some restaurants in DC get flamed for when they put this extra 4% for the "healthcare and wellbeing" of their employees. IDK what bothers me more, restaurant owner collecting this extra percentage if it does truly go to the employees, or the county spending and padding the pockets of their chosen contractors who get rich and raise their fees providing the same level of service, while the taxpayer is footing this. There is zero transparency. I'd rather this tax go as "tip" to the employees preparing my meal. But as it stands, tip is still due if you want employees to get anything. In addition to these suggested tip amounts for regular counter service at every food establishment where employees just hand you the product, we now have to pay extra to the county without transparency or any assurance we are getting any breaks on RE taxes