HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_10_22_r173 2003 Legislative ProgramTt~e Town of
Leesburg,
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PRESENTED
RESOLUTION NO. 2002-173 ADOPTED
A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2003 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
October 22, 2002
October 22, 2002
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council have identified legislative items that are in the best
interest of the citizens of the Town of Leesburg; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to communicate these items to the elected officials
representing Leesburg to be addressed by the 2003 General Assembly.
THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia
establishes the following legislative priorities to be communicated to the elected officials
representing Leesburg:
1. Protect the authority of towns. Oppose any narrowing of local government authority,
such as taxation or land use, and oppose any action to restrict current local revenue
sources. The General Assembly and executive should continue to recognize towns as
essential units of local government, with important roles in providing services. Towns
should have clear and full authority to act in a timely manner on matters, which protect
public health, safety and welfare.
2. Modify regulations of the Department of Conservation and Recreation requiring
localities to enforce erosion and sediment control on a lot-by-lot basis. For development
projects, Virginia now requires localities to enforce erosion and sediment control on a
lot by lot basis, which is expensive for Loudoun County to administer. Loudoun's
method of controlling runoff by development area makes the developer directly
responsible for meeting the standards.
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A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2003 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
3. Fund the Sycolin Road/Route 7/15 Bypass Widening Project, Route 7 Interchange
Improvements at 'River Creek Parkway, Battlefield Parkway, and White Gate, and
Route 15 Bypass Interchange Improvements at Edwards Ferry Road. These roads are
burdened with major regional traffic. Funding construction of these projects will
substantially improve the transportation system of the region.
4. Fund a Bus Rapid Transit System connecting Leesburg and Western Loudoun County
with the Dulles Corridor. The Town supports establishing BRT service west of
Leesburg with a station in the Route 7/Route 9 corridor, and a station in Leesburg
adjacent to the Dulles Greenway.
5. Designate Leesburg as a voting member of the Northern Virginia Transportation
Authority. In 2001, the General Assembly approved a new regional transportation
authority charged with planning and developing an "integrated and efficient
transportation system". With respect to regional projects, the authority has been
empowered to issue bonds, recommend funding priorities, and allocate funds. The four
counties and five cities of the region are granted voting memberships. Leesburg as well
as Dumfries, Herndon, and Vienna were given advisory board status. Leesburg
deserves full voting rights based on its population and level of transportation
responsibilities.
6. Fund a bridge crossing of the Potomac River. The General Assembly should take a
leadership role in establishing a new bridge crossing of the Potomac River between
Point Of Rocks Bridge and the American Legion Bridge. This would relieve traffic
pressure, especially from large trucks, along the Route 15 corridor through Leesburg.
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A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2003 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
7. Support the Citizens Tax Commission recommendations regarding Virginia's State and
Local Tax Structure for the 21st Century. Leesburg supports the commission's findings
that: (1) state should increase substantially its support for operational and capital costs
for local school divisions; (2) state should assume full operation cost for provision of
mandated Comprehensive Services Act, public health, Community Services Boards,
local and regional jails, and local social services departments; (3) state should return a
share of state income tax to localities to broaden their revenue base and decrease
dependence on the real estate tax; (4) state should participate in the Streamlined Sales
Tax Project designed to standardize state sales and use tax provisions, review all
current exemptions to sales and use tax, and extend the tax to services; (5) taxing
authority of counties should be made commensurate to that of cities; (6) state should
review tax exempt status granted to all non-governmental property and the restrictions
that limit the service charges that may be applied to tax-exempt property; (7) localities
should retain authority to impose the merchants' capital and BPOL taxes; and (8)
localities should be granted increased oppOrtunity to collaborate in regional economic
development activities.
8. Share income tax revenue with localities including towns. Leesburg supports state
income tax revenue sharing with towns according to the Virginia Municipal League
"50/40/10" Plan. With respect to sharing other tax proceeds such as sales tax, the
General Assembly should abandon the formula based on the triennial school census in
favor of one based on relative share of the population.
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A RESOLUTION: ADOPTING A 2003 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
9. Support the Legislative Program of the Virginia Municipal League.
supports the positions adopted by the League.
PASSED this 22nd day of October 2002.
The town generally
ATTEST:
rk of Council
I~ri~n~. Uamstattd, May~- ' /~
Town of Leesburg
R02: Legislative Agenda 2003