[Archived] City of Alexandria Announces Public Hearing on Revisions to the Decal Process for Motor Vehicles

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

City of Alexandria Announces Public Hearing on Revisions to
the Decal Process for Motor Vehicles

The Alexandria City Council had a first reading and scheduled a public hearing for Jan. 24 to discuss an ordinance authorizing the advance issuance of City decals to vehicle owners before payment of their current year personal property taxes, provided their prior year property taxes have been paid, and discontinuing the proration of vehicle decal fees. The public hearing is scheduled for 9:30 am in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 301 King St.

The proposed ordinance would reduce expenses and provide a more convenient system for City taxpayers. Most vehicle owners now receive at least two mailings from the City. The first mailing is a bill for personal property taxes, the $25 decal fee, and any applicable zone parking fees. After the bill is paid, City staff manually mails the decal (and zone parking permits, if any). Under the proposed ordinance, City decals will be mailed to vehicle owners along with the bill for personal property taxes, the decal fee and any parking permit fees. The City will have a range of enforcement tools available to effect payment by owners who fail to pay the bill.

Also planned for 2004 will be the establishment of two new features on the City’s web site. First, an e-check function will be added that will enable a taxpayer to authorize the City to debit the taxpayer’s checking account. Second, the ability to register a vehicle for personal property tax reasons on-line will be created. This will eliminate the requirement for new residents to Alexandria as well as existing residents who purchase a new car to make a trip to City Hall, and allow more taxpayers to be on-line and not in line.

For more information about the proposed ordinance, call 703.838.4755. To sign up to speak at the public hearing, call 703.838.4550.

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