My name is Elliott Bales, I live in Arlington, VA and I am a retired US Army officer and a professional actor. I ask you to pass HB 771 to help us continue to grow the film and video production industry in Virginia. As a member of SAG-AFTRA and an elected member of the SAG-AFTRA Washington-MidAtlantic Local Board - the actors' and performers' union - I have first hand experienced the value of having a strong industry to tell Virginia's stories and to allow Virginians to participate in this important work. It is frustrating and painful to see so much of our work go to other states with incentives that dwarf what Virginia offers. Having to travel to other locales to work and spending money in their local businesses and paying taxes to their states bleeds money that should be spent in the Commonwealth. My conversations with producers who want to film in Virginia because of our depth of talent, the scenic value of our geography, and the history that resides here always ends the same way - they take their business elsewhere because it is more profitable. It is time to make Virginia more competitive in this industry that is currently growing revenue at 7.2% year over year. The Commonwealth needs more of that revenue spent here. I applaud the subcommittee's unanimous vote to move this significant piece of legislation forward and look forward to the full committee's passage of as well. We do not want to work in Atlanta or New York or LA. We want to work in the Commonwealth of Virginia, spend our money here, and see filmmakers spend their dollars at our businesses. And when we pay our reasonable taxes, we want them to stay in Virginia.

I am a resident of Virginia since 2010. I am a member of IATSE local 487. I am a disabled person. I have been a professional artist and visual arts teacher for 20 years. I support any funding to bring tv, movies, and commercials to the Common Wealth. My role in the movie industry is to work with k-12 students while they are on location. I fully implement all lessons provided by their school teacher to complete on location to be up to date with their studies. Working in the production industry and with union assistance has helped my self confidence and improve my social ability. I understand what it is like to work in an underpaid agency. Along with managers who are ill-prepared to work with disabled staff. My hope is that with this influx of financial funds. Many of us disabled workers can work in an industry we are trained to do, plus enjoy seeing the outcome displayed on the big screen.

The City of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Public Schools Superintendent on behalf of the Portsmouth Public Schools Board, strongly supports HB805. Providing this opportunity to all muncipalities who choose to exert their option to have their citizens decide by refrendum to increase their sales taxes up to 1% to raise revenue to address the aging and outdated infrastructure our children sit in every day, and we also use as shelters in emergency situations is sorely needed. Please support!

Honorable Delegates: I am writing as an elected Supervisor of the Franklin County Board of Supervisors. I would like to highly encourage passage of HB805. I strongly feel rural localities need the capability of letting the people speak via referendum to the implementation of an additional 1% sales tax for school construction and renovation. Our County has significantly aged schools that require extensive renovation, if not total reconstruction. Franklin County desperately needs a CTE Center to support relevant, current day training for our students who will in turn produce a qualified work force that we so desperately need. The capital monies this proposed 1% will bring will average $6M-$7M annually. We will be able to adequately support our school needs and keep pressure off our real estate taxation level. The distinction of note, property taxes impact every citizen; sales tax can be viewed as a 'user' tax to include a transient population present in our County. Franklin County continues to lose transportation dollars, which will have an adverse impact on local dollars, as an example. School debt service to address our aging schools, some of which have environmental issues, will be something that will need to take place over decades putting our children at risk. I am an elected official that understands our fiscal responsibility to our taxpayers. I must stand in the gap to ensure that dollars are being conservatively spent and allocated appropriately to keep pressure off the real estate tax rate, where possible. Rural localities in the Commonwealth are disenfranchised in many respects in today's climate with significant dollars diverted to Northern VA. Again, transportation an example. The General Assembly must act to protect, allocate and understand rural localities' budget challenges to ensure sustainability and viability of our economies. I respectfully ask for passage of this bill to include sunsetting language. This will be a significant game changer if our citizens were to have this option. IMPORTANTLY, this option is just that; our citizens would make the decision via referendum therein having their voice heard. Respectfully submitted, Lorie M. Smith, Supervisor Gills Creek District, Franklin County

Virginia PTA supports HB805/HB600/HB458 -- All students should have the ability to attend school in a building that meets modern health, safety, instructional, and technology standards. Unfortunately, many schools in the Commonwealth haven't been renovated in decades and no longer meet modern safety standards. Localities should have equal ability to ask voters via referendum to consider a dedicated local sales & use tax for school construction/renovation needs.

On behalf of the Franklin County Board of Supervisors, I would like to submit their support of the proposed legislation, which is part of their adopted legislative agenda, whereas the Board of Supervisors "strongly urges the approval for ALL counties and cities to have the option of imposing an additional 1% sales tax, by referendum, to be restricted for school capital projects for construction/renovation. This strategy takes the burden off the real estate tax rates". Steven Sandy Deputy County Administrator

Good morning Delegates and interested parties. The 2 House Bills (HB 600 & HB 805) being reviewed today are of great interest to the City of Lexington. In short we desire to provide a top education to our children and modern, efficient and safe schools are critical to this purpose. The option of raising additional revenues through sales tax or other means is important today and in the future. While Lexington's school facilities are in relatively good condition - they are not new. At some point in the future (perhaps sooner than we may believe) it may be necessary to renovate or upgrade them and with dramatically increasing construction costs in the last several years, it will not be inexpensive. Further, Lexington high school students attend the Rockbridge County High School and it is currently scheduled for major renovation in the very near future. While the citizens of Lexington and Rockbridge County are willing to continue our investment in the education of our children, options matter. Permitting alternative revenues are important tools to have available to our localities. I urge you to support these two pieces of legislation. Thank you for all that you do to serve our communities and the citizens of the Commonwealth. Have a wonderful day!

Comments Document

On behalf of the City of Portsmouth Public Schools, I strongly support the statewide permissive bills allowing for a local referendum to increase sales taxes up to 1% for the sole purpose of raising revenue to aid in the construction and modernization of our public school buildings. Many are way over 50-years old, and no longer meet the needs of our instructors, staff, and or our children. If for some reason, the statewide bills are not approved, then I ask that you please support and pass HB1437, which will provide this option for the City of Portsmouth. Thank you.