Englin Meets with DRBA

While trimming the state budget was the top objective of the majority in the General Assembly this year, Del. David Englin (D-45th) said his main efforts were in getting rid of two “gimmicks” enacted to do just that—the accelerated sales tax and dipping into state pensions to balance the budget.

Englin met with the Del Ray Business Association on Monday at to discuss his work in the state house and field questions from local business owners.

“Virginia’s economy is coming back,” Englin said, adding that recent revenue trends showed unexpected improvement.

Englin spoke of the successful budget amendment he delivered to repeal the accelerated sales tax that put a strain on small businesses.

The measure was enacted the previous year as a way to balance the budget by having retailers submit sales tax receipts early to boost revenue.

“We had the support of the [Alexandria] Chamber [of Commerce] and the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association jumped on board, and thankfully the amendment passed,” Englin said.

The amendment exempts small businesses from the accelerated tax, leaving primarily the “largest businesses and big box stores affected,” Englin said.

“Hopefully it’s helpful to the small businesses here in the room,” he said.

The second “gimmick” Englin discussed was the removal of money from the state pension trust fund to use toward budget shortfalls. Englin voted against the measure that allowed the General Assembly to dip into the pension money the year before.

“I drafted the Virginia Retirement System Lock Box Amendment that would prevent that money from being taken,” Englin said. “I received some bipartisan support for it, but the amendment didn’t go forward.”

Englin said some of the money removed from the pension fund has been repaid.

The Del Ray resident also touched on legislation he helped pass to streamline and simplify administrative paperwork for business owners by allowing them to register with a commissioner of revenue or local finance departments as opposed to the state.

Tina Leone, president and CEO of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, also met with the DRBA on Monday to discuss developments with her organization.

Fresh off a victory against Alexandria’s , Leone said the chamber continues to monitor the city’s waterfront plan. Leone said the chamber has put its support behind the plan because it is “the best plan we will get,” one that balances the desires of both businesses and residents.

On Saturday, the on the waterfront plan, many of them Old Town residents voicing their concerns with the plan.

Following a resolution in the waterfront saga, Leone said she plans on working with city staff to simplify the special use permit process for business owners. 

“We need to see how we can implement real change here,” she said.