#150067 - 03-19-07 11:28 PM
Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
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zeroflux
Administrator
Registered: 03-11-01
Posts: 6175
Loc: Arlington, Virginia
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I received a very odd political advocacy call today and I am hoping that someone in the forum can help decipher it.
After identifying the call as a political survey (?) the caller asked me if I rent, to which I replied that I do. She then asked me if I receive any type of public assistance? I replied that I do not. She then read a script stating that legislation is being proposed in the Virginia legislature that would introduce a renter property tax and that this legislation is included in the transportation bill that Governor Kaine has stated he would veto.
She then asked if she could transfer me to Mayor Ferguson's office and if I would tell them that I oppose the renter's tax? I was then transferred to a number to an Arlington County office. Rather than jump right in and express my opposition, I asked the gentleman who answered if he had information as to who is introducing renter’s tax legislation? He seemed perplexed (perhaps because he was being phone slammed) and stated that any such legislation would be at the state level. He then provided me with a number 804-786-2211 which I googled and leads to the Confidential Assistant to the Governor-Sherrie Harrington
Here is what I find odd about this call:
a) I googled “Virginia Renter’s Tax” and cannot find any results indicating that such legislation is being proposed.
b) Ferguson is the Chairman of the Arlington, County Board. Arlington does not have a Mayor. I also find it puzzling that they would transfer the call to Arlington County if they have no involvement/input into this type of legislation.
c) It is difficult to figure out what the motive is here. If Governor Kaine states that he will veto the legislation, why do they need to mobilize voters to express their opposition to it and why are they transferring the calls to Arlington County instead of the Virginia State Legislature or Governor’s office? If the advocacy firm is Republican, how does it help them to make Governor Kaine look like a hero by admitting that he opposes a tax … unless they know he is going to sign the bill in which case the anger they stir up is still eclipsed by the negative of the new tax becoming law.
d) If the firm is a Democratic firm, why would they against legislation when they already know that a Democratic Governor is going to veto it? If he isn’t going to veto it, it still doesn’t make sense because they would be stirring up opposition to their own bill and to a Governor from their own party.
For the record, I am very opposed to a renter’s tax. The majority of renters are middle class and lower income poor and only rent because they cannot afford to purchase a home. Renters among their ranks the most vulnerable of the citizenry including senior citizens who may have liquidated their homes to pay for their retirement or may have never owned a home to begin with. No matter how you cut it, the renter’s tax cannot possibly be a tax on the wealthy, as the vast majority of the wealthy are property owners.
Is anyone familiar with any such legislation being introduced or have any idea what the motivation may be behind this advocacy calls? 
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#150068 - 03-19-07 11:36 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: zeroflux]
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firecracker too
Member
Registered: 05-20-03
Posts: 14971
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That is totally bizarre, Zero! If you can't Google Virginia Renter's Tax and come up with anything, I'm thinking this is some kind of strange phone "phishing" or other scam. Please keep us posted of what you turn up.
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#150069 - 03-19-07 11:38 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: firecracker too]
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BuffaloGal
Member
Registered: 07-28-06
Posts: 12029
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I just spent five minutes googling a lot of combinations and didn't get anything either. Do you have call display, Zero? Or can you do *69 to get the number that called?
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#150070 - 03-19-07 11:40 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: BuffaloGal]
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firecracker too
Member
Registered: 05-20-03
Posts: 14971
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I agree BuffGal. Something's not right here.
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#150071 - 03-19-07 11:46 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: firecracker too]
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zeroflux
Administrator
Registered: 03-11-01
Posts: 6175
Loc: Arlington, Virginia
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It was definitely a political advocacy call (plus, I'm on the Do Not Call registry and only extremely rarely have telemarketers call me... and they typically don't get past the first three seconds of the call).
She was very professional and did not ask me for any personal information whatsoever. She only asked the above two questions and then inquired if I would tell Mayor Ferguson's office that I oppose the renter's property tax. She then transferred me to the Arlington County Board or Council line.
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#150072 - 03-19-07 11:49 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: zeroflux]
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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Im not in Va...but it sounds like double dipping to me...
most rental owners include the property tax into the rent.
but then thats what you get when you elect from the leftwingtaxalot party.
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#150073 - 03-19-07 11:54 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: zeroflux]
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firecracker too
Member
Registered: 05-20-03
Posts: 14971
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If Ferguson isn't a Mayor, why didn't your professional contact know that information? Could have been a phone bank volunteer, but you would think she would have been briefed before being put on the phones.
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#150074 - 03-19-07 11:56 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: firecracker too]
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firecracker too
Member
Registered: 05-20-03
Posts: 14971
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I'm on the Do Not Call list too, Zero - both on my phone land line and on my cell phones.
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#150075 - 03-19-07 11:57 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: ]
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BuffaloGal
Member
Registered: 07-28-06
Posts: 12029
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Try para 6 in the following - it's the only thing I found that had any relationship to your call at all. A transient rentals tax. I doubt this is anything, but it might lead you in a good direction.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB3197
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#150080 - 03-20-07 01:10 AM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: BuffaloGal]
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h.rapbrown
Member
Registered: 07-11-01
Posts: 44592
Loc: Saginaw Valley
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"the leftwingtaxalot party." Caustic
As opposed to the "rightwingspendalotandneverpayback" party, huh?
_________________________
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#150082 - 03-20-07 02:14 AM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: h.rapbrown]
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firecracker too
Member
Registered: 05-20-03
Posts: 14971
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Off topic, SirC and Rap...
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#150093 - 03-20-07 08:00 AM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: firecracker too]
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Catz
Member
Registered: 09-19-04
Posts: 46544
Loc: New Port Richey, Florida
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If I were you Zero, I would check my phone bill to see if there is a huge increase.
_________________________
Liberals are a dying breed
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#150139 - 03-20-07 01:58 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: Catz]
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Ingrid Bergman
Member
Registered: 07-05-01
Posts: 5293
Loc: Western Penna.
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I think the key word here is personalproperty tax. I think calling it a renter's tax is sort of a shortcut political spin. Perhaps the county is considering lowering property taxes by shifting it to personal property taxes. That is going on here in Pennsylvania. The state permits it, but is the school district in our case who has the option to tax shift. Some shift from Earned Income Tax to Personal Property Tax to get people who have trust and investment income. Usually Social Security type income is exempt.
Looks like Arlington has a personal property tax which apparently only taxes cars, "car tax", but they have increased the rate this year which affects vehicles over $3000.
Changes in Arlington's Personal Property Tax
This is my best guess about what your call was about. The only reason they care if you are renting & call it a "renter's tax" is that you would pay a higher car tax if you rent, but wouldn't see any real estate tax relief.
Arlington Dept of Revenue
Edited by Ingrid Bergman (03-20-07 02:01 PM)
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#150166 - 03-20-07 03:39 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: Ingrid Bergman]
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batz
Member
Registered: 04-27-05
Posts: 2973
Loc: virginia
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I think the key word here is personalproperty tax. I think calling it a renter's tax is sort of a shortcut political spin. Perhaps the county is considering lowering property taxes by shifting it to personal property taxes. - IB
Just the opposite in Virginia IB. We are still in the last phase of the elimination of the dreaded "car tax" that was such a political hot potato for such a long time. In the political wonder world, the state was going to compensate the localities for the lost revenue from the tax. In the real world I am afraid they are finding out that they need other sources are are looking diligently. As it stands now this state has an income tax, car tax, property tax (for home owners) and a sales tax that includes purchases of food and medicine. Enough is enough.
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#150170 - 03-20-07 03:49 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: batz]
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Ingrid Bergman
Member
Registered: 07-05-01
Posts: 5293
Loc: Western Penna.
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Yep, you seem to have very high taxes. Not that PA is a low tax state - we have municipal/city earned income taxes averaging 1% in the suburbs, higher in Philly & Pittsburgh. State income tax of 3.2% or so. It does seem your tax rates in general are higher, except for real estate. We get killed on real estate taxes, esp school. No taxes (yet) on clothing or food. But at least real estate taxes are deductible.
I have a friend who recently moved to Virginia and find that you have more annoying taxes like the car tax, food & clothes. In PA it is $36 to register your car, plus annual inspection of about $50. A car tax I think is awful. Most people need a car to work and w/insurance etc it is hard enough to get by.
_________________________
"... my grandmother... she is a TYPICAL WHITE PERSON" - Barry Hussein Obama
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#150178 - 03-20-07 03:58 PM
Re: Virginia Introducing a Renter's Tax?
[Re: Ingrid Bergman]
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batz
Member
Registered: 04-27-05
Posts: 2973
Loc: virginia
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It does seem your tax rates in general are higher, except for real estate. We get killed on real estate taxes, esp school. - IB
And I have a feeling that this is where a "renter's tax" may be heading. Arlington and the surround areas of NOVA have a high proportion of renters and also a very high proportion of immigrants (legal and not). The tax collected from the property owners does not even come close to paying for the schools needed for the renters who, in general are younger and have a lot of children in the education system. Perhaps the proposal is intended to adress that issue since property owners are getting very tired of paying ever increasing taxes going towards education when they have no children in the system.
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