The Virginia State Senate has passed a bill that would enable Virginia localities to create a local income tax to fund improvements to transportation infrastructure.

Under the legislation, SB 1313, which is now awaiting review in the House of Delegates, local governments would be allowed to establish an income tax of up to 1 percent without approval from voters.

The bill would affect the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park. 

Current Virginia law dictates a jurisdiction’s residents must approve a local income tax in a referendum. The majority of Virginia localities rely on road maintenance from the state, with the exception of some areas including Alexandria, Arlington County, Henrico County in Richmond and some cities in the Hampton Roads District.

Alexandria-area Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30th) supported the bill, which passed the senate in a 27-11 vote.

Sens. Janet Howell and Barbara Favola voted in favor of the proposal.

“This bill represents the worst possible deal for the Northern Virginia taxpayer,” Fairfax Sen. Chap Petersen said in a statement.

After Gov. Bob McDonnell’s $3.1 billion transportation funding package failed to the pass the Senate, Petersen worried this new legislation would be deemed the new fix to the state’s ongoing transportation problems.