Legislative Agenda

GREATER WILLIAMSBURG CHAMBER AND TOURISM ALLIANCE

2008 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

TRANSPORTATION

  • Support amending the legislation creating the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority to include revisions recommended by the Authority that seek revenue sources that are simple and more targeted, revenue neutral, and tied to the purpose of transportation. Increases to the transient occupancy tax must not fund transportation projects. Investing in the Transportation System of the Commonwealth must remain the top priority in the General Assembly as it is essential to avoid economic decline in Virginia.

TOURISM

  • Support significant and sustaining long and short-term funding sources for the Virginia Tourism Corporation to use for tourism promotion to position the Commonwealth as a destination of choice.

FISCAL POLICY

  • Oppose the proposed amendment to Virginia's Constitution that would allow localities to grant up to a 20-percent real estate exemption or deferral to owner-occupied residential property. Giving local governments the authorization to create differential or multi-tiered local property tax classifications or assessment ratios through constitutional amendments is not wise fiscal policy for the Commonwealth.

  • Support the use of The Revenue Stabilization Fund to partially meet the currently projected state budget shortfall and to avoid unplanned budget cuts late in the budget cycle.

EDUCATION

  • Support expanding access to high quality preschool programs for at-risk children and other Pre-K initiatives that help future students enter school better prepared to learn.
  • Support placing a general obligation bond initiative on the November 2008 ballot which, if approved, includes $1.65 billion of capital projects for institutions of higher education in Virginia. These capital investments (including nearly $90 million for the College of William & Mary/VIMS and $8 million for Thomas Nelson Community College) include new construction and renovation projects focused on economic development research, workforce training, enhancing capacity and retraining students and faculty.

HEALTH CARE/HUMAN SERVICES

  • Support the implementation and funding of the Roadmap for Virginia's Health: A Report of the Governor's Health Reform Commission, which recommends ways to improve the healthcare system in the Commonwealth by enhancing the healthcare workforce, expanding access to care, improving quality, increasing transparency, promoting prevention, and advancing long-term care.