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Naturally, all the Delegates from the tobacco growing area were in opposition. They gave employment figures as well as revenues the industry brings into the State. Delegate Brickley offered a bill to allow all counties to have their own tobacco tax, a tax that all cities in Virginia now have.
It is amazing the tax disparity among the cities, from Bristol with a two cent tax to Falls Church which has a ten cent tax. Twenty cities have taxes in this range. It’s interesting to note that Falls Church’s revenue in 1979 was SI84,00 and Fairfax County which has a five cent tax received $2'/i million.
The best solution was that of Delegate Barrow, who two yeras ago advocated imposition of a statewide four cent tax, abolishing all city taxes and dividing the revenue to the counties and towns based on population. The cities would not give in and the bill failed so it looks as if there is no chance now to equalize this tax.
The sales tax on food took up most of the hearing and a bill by Delegate Stambaugh became unwieldy. Certain store items were exempted and a five to six year phaseout followed.
80.5%