taxes

News

Facing financial decline, Alexandria releases new draft plan for economic growth

By James Cullum
A ‘Shop Local’ sign in the 200 block of King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Facing a decline in job growth, a struggling commercial real estate market and a climbing population, today (Friday) Alexandria released the draft of its first economic development strategy in nearly two decades.

The 63-page ALX Forward draft plan makes a number of recommends to reverse negative trends, including leveraging economic opportunities in Old Town North, Eisenhower East, the West End, and Potomac Yard; retaining local businesses and attracting high-growth industries like artificial intelligence firms; and strengthening support for the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

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News

Sen. Ebbin scores victory as his transit-funding panel sends its plan to legislature

By Scott McCaffrey
Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-39, chairing last SJ28 Subcommittee meeting (screenshot via SJ28 Subcommittee)

For Sen. Adam Ebbin, the task of securing dedicated revenue streams for Northern Virginia transit is now 50% complete, as the region’s transit subcommittee approved a new spending package proposal this week.

In conversations with the Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee, Ebbin (D-39) successfully shepherded near-unanimous support for the package, which calls for $400 million annually in new spending.

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News

Alexandria wants to increase rental fees at these city-owned facilities

By James Cullum
The swimming pool at Alexandria City High School's Minnie Howard Campus, May 29, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

It’s about to get more expensive to have fun at city-owned properties in Alexandria.

On Wednesday, April 30, the City Council will consider approving rental fee increases for several of the city’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities programs.

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News

Alexandria offering free tax prep for locals making less than $67k

By Vernon Miles
Money on a table (staff photo via Vernon Miles)

If you’re an Alexandrian making less than $67,000, you can skip TurboTax this year and get help directly from the City of Alexandria.

Qualifying residents can receive support from  Community Tax Aid, Inc., a non-profit based out of DC that helps to ensure taxpayers apply for all applicable credits and reductions, like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit.

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Opinion

Poll: No tax on tips in Virginia?

By ALXnow.com
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks at the announcement of a new arena for the Washington Wizards and Capitals in Potomac Yard in Alexandria, Dec. 13, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) says Virginia workers shouldn’t pay state tax on tips they get from customers.

Adopting the policy — supported on a federal level by both president-elect Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris during the recent election — would let tipped workers keep an extra $70 million each year throughout the Commonwealth, the governor’s office said in a press release Monday.

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News

Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson is leaving politics

By James Cullum
Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub in Del Ray, Nov. 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Pretty soon email inboxes won’t get those monthly newsletters from Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson. It’s the end of an era in the city, as Wilson leaves office in January.

Wilson is looking forward to it.

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News

Car tax due today in Alexandria and penalties higher this year

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

Personal property taxes, also known as car taxes, are due today in Alexandria, and new penalties make late payments pricey.

City Council approved City Manager Jim Parajon’s proposal in the spring to increase the late payment penalty from a flat rate of:

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News

Visit Alexandria reports record tourism and spending

By James Cullum
A tour guide tells a story on a hot July day in front of the Carlyle House at 121 N. Fairfax Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

With visitation revenue at an all-time high, Alexandria’s tourism bureau forecasts an “ambitious” agenda for fiscal year 2025.

On Thursday, Visit Alexandria reported an 18% increase (to $941 million) in tourism spending in FY 2024. The city also saw $86 million in consumption tax revenues from sales, meals and lodging, a 6% increase. The largest consumption increase was in lodging, rising from $3 million during the pandemic to $15 million last year.

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News

Alexandria Mayor says short-term rentals now comprise over a quarter of the city’s ‘hotel tax’ revenue

By Vernon Miles
An Airbnb rental in Old Town, Alexandria. (Photo via Boyd Walker)

Alexandria is still working out the kinks in its short-term rentals policies, but rentals on sites like Airbnb have already taken over a considerable amount of the city’s transient lodging market.

In a newsletter, Mayor Justin Wilson said there are over 700 short-term rentals in Alexandria, comprising less than 1% of the city’s housing stock, but that those rentals account for over a quarter of the city’s transient lodging tax revenue — a market traditionally defined by hotels.

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