Date published: 7/20/2008

p { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration: none; color: #000000; text-align: justify; background-color: transparent } Aircraft owners should pay fair share of taxes

Most Stafford residents saw their real estate taxes go up significantly this year, even though property values dropped dramatically over the past two years.

Business owners saw their commercial property taxes go up also, and the BPOL tax was recently approved on top of that.

While not many of us like paying higher taxes, at least we can see that taxes are going up for just about everyone.

However, our illustrious Stafford Regional Airport Authority is currently requesting that the property tax on aircraft be eliminated, or at least dramatically reduced ["Ready for takeoff," July 12].

Boat owners currently pay $5.49 per $100 of assessed value. We pay the same on automobiles, unless they are strictly for private use; then we get a small relief.

Aircraft owners in Stafford pay only $3 per $100 right now, which is grossly unfair to the rest of us who own other types of recreational or business vehicles.

Clearly, aircraft owners are already being given preferential treatment on taxes, but they want more.

It seems to me that aircraft owners are the group most capable of paying higher taxes, but they want to get out of paying altogether.

Just like everything else about the airport, this request is unethical and a rude slap in the face of county residents.

Anyone who agrees that this action is unfair and unethical should contact the Stafford County Board of Supervisors before it is too late.

Ted A. Parks

Stafford