Arthur Purves: Tax increases not needed for transportation

The Republican-controlled House of Delegates in Richmond has passed a bill (HB3202) increasing transportation funding by $1.5 billion per year. Of that, $1 billion comes from higher taxes and fees; the remainder is from the General Fund surplus.

Fairfax County residents have been hit hard by real estate tax increases. Since 2000, real estate taxes for the typical Fairfax County homeowner have doubled, from about $2,400 to $4,800. Over that period, the supervisors raised real estate taxes an average of 10 percent per year.