In another ulcer-inducing move, Mayor Dwight Jones proposed a financial plan for the City of Richmond on Monday June 27 that includes increasing taxes and the debt capacity of the City.
In another ulcer-inducing move, Mayor Dwight Jones proposed a financial plan for the City of Richmond on Monday June 27 that includes increasing taxes and the debt capacity of the City.
This is the same mayor who, during his two terms in office, has managed to almost double the debt of the City, to a stunning/paralyzing total of 800 million dollars. This leaves little, if any wiggle room for future elected officials, and a huge burden for future generations of Richmonders. That future generation, aside from this debt burden have an uphill battle, with almost 40% of them growing up in poverty, about double the percent for the rest of Virginia.
Adding more debt to the City, that people who are not even of age to vote will have to deal with, is incredibly unjust.
One of Jones’ proposed tax increases is particularly egregious; a 1.5% increase on the City’s meals tax. What makes this aspect of his proposal sting in particular is the history of the meals tax in Richmond.
The meals tax was increased from 5% to 6% in 2004, with that added 1% designated to go to the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation – IF the VPAF raised $30 million on their own. They did not, and the VPAF no longer exists, and yet the tax increase remained. Just as with Richmond’s high (est in the country) water utility rate, the extra money brought in from the meal’s tax goes to the general fund as opposed to any specific program or department. The failure to reduce the meals tax to it’s original rate has been a failure for elected officials to keep to their promises, which hurts public trust.
Many local restauranteurs over the years have pointed out the downsides to Richmond having one of the highest meal taxes in the state.
It costs local businesses customers. Jones’ proposed increase would set Richmond at the very highest meals tax rate in the State.
The City of Richmond needs money, the Richmond Public Schools need money, but the reason we do not have sufficient funds to run basic municipal services is NOT that restaurants and their customers haven’t been paying their fair share. Richmond’s financial problems have to do with bad budgeting, fiscal irresponsibility, nepotism, and possibly systemic corruption.
Forcing local businesses, customers, cigarette smokers, etc. to make up for the failure of Mayor Jones’ leadership is not a fair solution. Nor will it be a solution at all if elected officials continue to prioritize flashy development projects and schemes over solid fiscal practices.
We need our grass to be cut, sidewalks repaired, water to be clean, schools to be great, and general maintenance of all public properties to be taken care of before extravagant purchases are made. –
