[Archived] Alexandria Announces 'One Date, One Payment' Plan; Changes to Affect All City Motor Vehicle Owners


News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:	Thursday, February 20, 1997
Contact:	Jennifer L. Grace, TGD Communications, (703) 548-0200; Dan Neckel, Director of Finance, (703) 838-4755

Alexandria Announces 'One Date, One Payment' Plan; Changes to Affect All City Motor Vehicle Owners

Alexandria is joining other Northern Virginia jurisdictions in setting a common vehicle decal due date. This change will take full effect on October 5, 1997. Under the City's new "One Date, One Payment" plan, the vehicle decal fee, the residential parking permit and the personal property tax will be combined into a single bill.

These changes will make it much easier for vehicle owners to pay their personal property tax and obtain the windshield decal and parking permit.

Alexandria's Director of Finance, Dan Neckel, said the City is changing the due date for vehicle decals and residential parking permits from May 1 to October 5. This change benefits the taxpayers in two ways, he added.

"First, the taxpayer will only have to pay a vehicle-related bill from the City once a year instead of twice," Neckel said. "Second, no longer will we require owners to register their vehicles annually."

In past years, motor vehicle owners registered their vehicles and purchased a full-year vehicle decal in May and then paid their personal property taxes in October. This year, motor vehicle owners will again purchase a vehicle decal and, if they reside in one of the City's 12 residential parking districts, a residential parking permit by May 1. This year's decal is valid until October 5, 1997 and the fee is reduced by 50 percent to $12.50 for most automobiles. In late summer, taxpayers will be mailed one bill which includes a full year vehicle decal at the annual rate and their personal property taxes, Neckel explained. He also stressed that there are no changes to the due date for personal property taxes or to the method of tax assessment.

Applications for the 1997 vehicle decals are being mailed February 24 to vehicle owners in Alexandria. Decals must be purchased by May 1, 1997, and are valid through October 5, 1997. The decals must be displayed by November 15, 1997. There are currently 113,000 taxable vehicles garaged, stored or parked in Alexandria.

Other Northern Virginia jurisdictions participating in this "One Date, One Payment" program include: Fairfax County; Arlington County; Loudoun County; City of Fairfax; City of Falls Church; City of Manassas; and the Town of Leesburg. Neckel said that the Tidewater and Richmond areas are also considering moving to a single bill that combines all vehicle-related fees and taxes.

Changing to a combined bill due on October 5, also allows Alexandria to participate in a regional enforcement effort. "Our laws will be identical to the other participating jurisdictions. This allows all of the jurisdictions to ticket a car for failure to display a vehicle decal regardless of where the car is registered. For example, an Alexandria resident, who in the past, has parked his vehicle in nearby Arlington or Fairfax County, will no longer be able to escape enforcement," according to Neckel.

For easy detection, all jurisdictions will have a uniform decal--same shape, same color. Only the center of the decal will be different for each jurisdiction. Once a ticket is given to a violator, the information will be shared with the appropriate jurisdiction to allow for follow-up.

Citizens with questions on the City's vehicle registration and assessment process may call the Personal Property Tax Branch at (703) 838-4560. For information regarding payment of motor vehicle taxes, please call the Treasury Division at (703) 838-4777.

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