Despite Hampton's Opposition, Transportation
Authority Approves New Taxes and Fees

August 12, 2007

Despite Hampton's opposition, the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority on August 10 approved new taxes and fees that will be paid by everyone in the region who drives or owns a motor vehicle or sells a house.

Representing the citizens of Hampton, Mayor Ross Kearney voted "no" to the new taxes and fees, in the 8-4 vote. (The other localities that voted in alignment with Hampton were York County, Poquoson, and Suffolk).

On the two evenings prior to the vote, over 79 percent of the speakers at two public hearings in Hampton and Virginia Beach were not in favor of the transportation package in its current form.

At the Hampton meeting, Mayor Kearney had this to say:

"It is no secret what my feelings, and the unanimous feelings of the Hampton City Council, are regarding this new Authority.

"We have many concerns, not the least of which is the lack of inclusion of any kind of congestion relief at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

"That's followed closely by our concerns about raising the taxes of both of our own citizens, and the many, many citizens residing in localities that this Council doesn't even represent."

To read a summary of the comments made by the Hampton City Council members when they unanimously voted against the Authority on June 13, Click Here.