: News

Filed Under:

Special Tax District In Fairfax Co. Close To Final Approval

December 14, 2009
Play associated audio
comments
Fairfax County is close to final approval for a special tax district in the western part of the county. If approved, the tax district is expected to raise $330 million.
Jonathan Wilson
Fairfax County is close to final approval for a special tax district in the western part of the county. If approved, the tax district is expected to raise $330 million.

By Jonathan Wilson

In Virginia, Fairfax County's Board of Supervisors is close to final approval for a special tax district in the Western part of the county.

Landowners holding a majority of the value of the proposed district have to agree to the special tax. Right now, the county says, landowners representing about 60 percent of the area's value have signed on.

Jeff Fairfield, represents the Launders Charitable trust, which owns 15 acres in the area.

He says a key to getting landowners to sign on, was reducing the burden of the tax early on, while the economy recovers.

"We have a stepped tax rate increase, beginning next year with only a nickel per $100 of valuation, and stepping up a nickel each year thereafter," says Fairfield.

The district includes the Route 28 corridor, Herndon and part of Reston, and is expected to raise $330 million.

Sharon Bulova, who chairs the board of supervisors, says without the agreement, "we would have, essentially, express bus service from Tysons to Dulles Airport."

Landowners have until December 21st, to change their minds.

Arts & Culture

NPR

China Builds Museums ... But Will The Visitors Come?

China is on a spree to build world-class museums and has opened about 100 of them annually in recent years. Two of the biggest opened on the same day last fall on opposite banks of Shanghai's Huangpu River. But filling these museums — with both art and visitors — is proving more challenging.

Food

NPR

Nutrition Group Says Chocolate Milk Is OK, No Need For Aspartame

The nation's largest group of nutritionists is urging the FDA to reject the dairy industry's petition to change the definition of milk. The petition aims to allow aspartame or other alternatives to be used to sweeten milk in an effort to boost consumption in schools.

Politics

NPR

Former IRS Head To Senate: It Wasn't My Fault

Douglas Shulman, who led the IRS during the years when agency workers targeted tax-exempt applications from conservative groups, did his best to deflect accusations from unhappy senators.

Technology

NPR

Microsoft Reveals New Xbox One Game System

Microsoft unveiled its new Xbox One Tuesday, displaying a device that takes new steps in game consoles' journey into becoming all-purpose entertainment and communication devices. The new console replaces the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for more than seven years.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.