Powerful Real Estate Lobby pushing Chesterfield Meals Tax

So the big realtors and their lobbyists want to roll over the small mom and pop restaurant owners who are barely making it.  (The Taxpayer knows that the large corporate restaurant chains don't care and would love to see the successful smaller operation (ie competition) culled in Chesterfield).

Realtors turned lobbyists, like Laura Lafayette, think that it is morally okay for out-of-towners to pay for our schools and threaten real estate hikes like "it's goin' outta style..."  Threats do not work in Virginia politics and   The Taxpayer is reminded of the adage that was made famous by Louisana Governor Long...

Don't tax you. Don't tax me. Tax that fellow behind the tree. 
 

Unlike Mrs. Lafayette and her cronies, the Taxpayer believes in paying for things that they use.  We just want the tools to keep an eye on things; but, alas the County continues to professionally stonewall transparency improvements that would make their case um... well transparent.

Back to speaking truth to power.   The "powerful" real estate lobby is looking at improving their bottomlines recently in Chesterfield through the government  tax structure (technically borderline fascism; but, we will save that for another day).  They want a meals tax.  They want to eliminate proffers.   They want to maintain the property tax at their current levels.  They also want things for the children.

These things are not unreasonable; but, they are slanted to target one type of business in Chesterfield and one activity NOW and get the next guy through another tax hike LATER.   The Taxpayer would like to point out that obtuse Chesterfield County government will continue to employ the "AND" approach.  Since these bureaucrats and elected officials could always use an additional buck and continue to sell the Taxpayer down the river for "FREE" federal dollars , they will continue to expand their waistlines.  Chesterfield county government grew $14M more and now they are seeking $56M more in meals tax revenues over the next 7 years. Once they have the meals tax locked in January, they will seek an increase in the real estate tax rate in March because there is some new mandate or something unexpected like a PENSION CRISIS.

The Taxpayer will not be fooled. We will vote NO in NOvember.  We will march again this Wednesday August 28th to increase Chesterfield County budget transparency.