HomeMy Public PortalAbout1990_12_12_R322LeesBurg in CVirgir~ia
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION:
PRESENTED December 12, 1990
90-322 ADOPTED December 12, 1990
REQUESTING THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADOPT THE
TOWN'S 1991 LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENT
WHEREAS, the Town of Leesburg generally supports the 1991 Legislative Program adopted by the
Virginia Municipal League; and
WHEREAS, the town supports actions by the General Assembly that will particularly benefit the
citizens of Leesburg such as changes in the method of allocating sales tax revenue, estimating population
of towns, allocating seized assets to the local government making the seizure and providing the town with
the authority to deny business licenses to businesses owing delinquent tmxes; and
WHEREAS, the town opposes any restriction on land use authority such as vesting of zoning rights:
THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as follows:
The Leesburg Town Council respectfully requests the General Assembly to adopt legislation
consistent with the Town of Leesburg Legislative Policy Statement and the Virginia Municipal League's
Legislative Program.
PASSED this 12th day of
December , 1990.
Robert E. Sevila, qVfJyor'
Town of Leesburg
ATTEST:
Clerk of Council
R:Va. Gen.Assembly
L M£
eesourg in ~Zirginia
1991
LEGISLATIVE POLICY STATEMENT
VESTING OF ZONING RIGHTS
The Town Council of the Town of Leesburg strongly opposes any restrictions on its land use powers
to establish, modify or enforce zoning classifications. Local governments are the most responsive to
community concerns regarding determining and enforcing land use. Any restriction established state-
wide that reduces local governmental control over land use regulation obviously limits responsiveness
to community needs. The town is aware, through the Virginia Municipal League, that there has been
a "vesting" bill introduced for consideration by the 1991 General Assembly. VML and VACO have stated
opposition to such attempts to legislate for localities this important land use issue. The town supports
VML's position.
LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX DISTRIBUTION
The town consistently has objected to the method which sales tax revenue is allocated. One-half
of the revenue is shared by the county with its towns on the basis of percentage of school-age children.
The Leesburg Town Council recommends that a more appropriate method of distributing sales tax
revenue would be to allocate revenue to the government where the business is located.
POPULATION ESTIMATES
The Town Council urges the General Assembly to adopt legislation which requires the accurate
estimate of town population. Current methods of estimating town population do not provide up-to-date
figures while cities and counties are properly updated eve~j year. ABC and law enforcement (and
possibly future sales tax) revenues are distributed based upon population estimates which are updated
for cities and counties each year by the Tayloe-Murphy Institute but: are based on census data for towns,
collected eve~/ten years. This obviously unfair allocation method must be corrected, as it costs citizens
of growing towns such as Leesburg (which has doubled its population in ten years) tens of thousands
of dollars annually.
SEIZED ASSETS
The Town of Leesburg heartily endorses the Virginia Municipal League's position on the disposition
-2-
of seized assets. Property seized during drug raids should be retained by the local law enforcement unit
to be reused for enforcement and prevention efforts.
The Town of Leesburg respectfully requests that the General Assembly provide enabling legislation
for towns to deny business licenses to applicants who owe delinquent taxes. This authority will offer a
much needed mechanism for towns to collect delinquent taxes.
Legis. Policy