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The Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance has observed with dismay the efforts of Democrats in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, led by Del. Richard Cranwell, to derail the car tax relief proposed by Gov. James Gilmore and demanded by Virginians.

When a legislator complains of the high "cost" of car tax relief (a complaint now in vogue), he or she is fighting to keep control of as many tax dollars as possible.

Similarly, by proposing their own watered-down tax relief plan to eliminate the sales tax on selected food items, while leaving the car tax alive and well, those legislators seek to reduce the amount of the tax benefit the average Virginian will receive.

To be sure, the Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 is far from perfect. The proposed legislation will allow for "reimbursement" to the taxpayers of money spent on personal property tax, and is not a true tax cut. Incredibly, the reimbursement will be considered taxable income, subject to federal and state income taxes.

Only a bureaucrat would think it makes sense to tax an individual's income, give a little of it back to the individual but tax the little bit being returned again as additional "income"!

This nightmare is hardly what Virginia voters had in mind when they voted to abolish the car tax last November.

Despite this flaw, however, the Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 is the result of the November mandate, and it is the tax relief plan on the table that will benefit taxpayers most. Senators and delegates from Fairfax County who oppose it will face an angry electorate in 1999.

MARK A. COLLINS
Reston
The writer is Second Vice President of the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance.