HomeMy Public PortalAbout1994_04_26_R088The Town of
Leesburg,
Virginia
RESOLUTION NO.94-88
A RESOLUTION:
PRESENTED April 26, 1994
ADOPTED April 26, 1994
STATING OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED AIRCRAFT PERSONAL
PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE BY THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN
WHEREAS, the personal property tax rate on aircraft was reduced substantially by both the
County of Loudoun and the Town of Leesburg in 1983, to promote economic development and the
growth of both Dulles International Airport and its designated reliever facility, Leesburg Municipal
Airport; and
WHEREAS, both Dulles International Airport and Leesburg Municipal Airport have benefited
from the reduced rate on aircraft personal property tax during the past decade; and
WHEREAS, the County of Loudoun has proposed an increase in the aircraft personal property
tax rate from $ .01 to $ .05 for fiscal year 1995; and
WHEREAS, the County of Loudoun will conduct a public hearing on the proposed tax rate
increase on May 4, 1994; and
WHEREAS, the proposed rate increase affects both aircraft based at Dulles International Airport
as well as Leesburg Municipal Airport; and
WHEREAS, the owners of aircraft based at the Leesburg Municipal Airport pay to the Town
of Leesburg an established annual user fee in lieu of increased personal property taxes; and
WHEREAS, the Leesburg Economic Development Commission and the Leesburg Airport
Commission have stated their opposition to the proposed, unjustified, county tax rate increase; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration has designated the Leesburg Municipal Airport
as a General Aviation Reliever Airport with the purpose of accommodating non-commercial aircraft
business to compliment the services provided at Dulles International Airport; and
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A RESOLUTION:
STATING OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED AIRCRAFT PERSONAL
PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE BY THE COUNTY OF LOUDOUN
WHEREAS, the long-term vitality of the Leesburg Municipal Airport depends on the continued
ability to attract corporate aircraft to base at Leesburg; and
WHEREAS, Leesburg Municipal Airport is already at a present competitive economic
disadvantage to nearby Frederick Municipal Airport, as there is no aircraft personal property tax levied
in the State of Maryland; and
WHEREAS, the Leesburg Municipal Airport contributes an estimated $ 42 million in total
economic impacts to the county annually; however, the County of Loudoun does not financially support
the Leesburg Municipal Airport from which it benefits:
THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as follows:
SECTION I. The proposed Loudoun County increase in the aircraft personal property tax rate
from $ .01 to $ .05 is hereby opposed by the Town of Leesburg due to its potential negative economic
impact on the Leesburg Municipal Airport. Such a tax rate increase may be justified only if the County
of Loudoun is willing to establish financial support for or is proposing to increase the levels of service
provided to the Leesburg Municipal Airport.
SECTION II. The Town of Leesburg, with this resolution, hereby requests that the County of
Loudoun work with the town to develop county-wide and/or regional financial support and marketing for
the Leesburg Municipal Airport, a designated General Aviation Reliever Airport for Dulles International
Airport.
PASSED this 26th day of April, 1994.
Clerk of Council
James E. Clem, Mayor
Town of Leesburg
R:airtax