Hugo's panel shoots down Arlington hotel tax

Arlington County stands to lose $3 million over three years after a House of Delegates subcommittee Monday killed a plan to extend the county’s hotel tax — the latest flare-up in a spat between Del. Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax, and Arlington officials. Hugo, who chairs the House Finance subcommittee that considered the tax extension, said he killed it because he objects to a lawsuit Arlington County filed in 2009 to halt the construction of high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes along Interstates 95 and 395.

“Obviously Arlington has an abundance of money if they can be engaged in egregious lawsuits against private individuals,” Hugo said.