Originally Posted by
IaninDC
It's actually 5c per bag although most supermarkets don't charge you. But Arlington has an 8.5% meal tax, so what's the real difference between DC's 10% and that (unless your meals run in the $1,000 range). And car tax - what the hell is that? I already bought my car, paid sales tax on it, so why do I need to pay it again every year. And why would you tax unprepared food? That just hurts the poor more than anyone else. As for parking tickets, I'd rather get one in DC than NoVA where the fines are higher and they tow your car on the spot.
NOVA is painfully dull and anywhere outside of Old Towne Alexandria, you are going to see awful suburban sprawl, a complete lack of zoning, and unfettered commercial development.
Except for Rosslyn-Ballston (and Pentagon City) in Arlington, probably the most successful examples of smart growth in the entire country.
The tax on unprepared food is 2%, which mostly balances out with the lower overall sales tax, meal tax, and income tax. Much of NoVA has better public facilities if that matters to you. Car tax only applies to those who own a car
Business taxes are also lower in NoVA.
There have been a few reports put out that show that DC and VA total tax burdens are comparable - that is, some people will come out ahead in one state or the other depending on specific circumstances including income level, whether you own property, number and types of owned vehicles, etc.