To the Editor:
I am a resident of the Alexandria area of Fairfax County and a single working mother with two children in Fairfax County public schools. I care about how much funding our schools have and how the dollars reach and affect the quality of the classroom and its environment. I also care about the community economy and believe that the people who are elected to county supervisor positions are there to act in the best interest of the taxpayers so that they can make the most out of our tax dollars.
That’s why I’m concerned about the new meals tax that they are proposing for the county. The county Board of Supervisor has already raised our real estate taxes this year by $100 million. Now they are saying it is not enough and that they need another $100 million — that’s $200 million in one year. They are saying that 70 percent of the cost will go to schools and school budgets. According to U.S. Census data, the state of Virginia spends nearly $10,000 per student every year. In Fairfax County that number raises to $13,000. If we are spending more than the average amount on every student per year already, it makes me wonder if they are spending our money efficiently within the school system.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the money will actually go to items that increase the quality of our schools. Nowhere does it say this will result in more money for schools. The board just says it will be used as a part of the existing school budget … not to increase the budget.
This is a ploy to get voters to vote yes on something that they normally would not support — yet another tax hike. And it’s a tax hike on items that working families like mine and many others frequently purchase —
pre-made deli items, rotisserie chickens, dinner out on the fly on the way home from practices or games — things that busy people of all socio-economic status need to keep their families happy and fed. The
Board of Supervisors is attempting to make that more expensive for everyone. Don’t fall for their tricks and public relations tactics. This tax is harmful to the working families of Fairfax.
The Board of Supervisors should do what they are elected to do — balance the budget and spend our hard-earned tax dollars wisely — not just ask the taxpayers for more and more every year. Don’t buy the lies; vote no on the meals tax.
Jessica Khouri
Alexandria