A Potential Pothole in Va. Roads Deal

Fairfax County officials also expressed concerns about the GOP transportation package, although they stopped considerably short of rejecting it.

"We may be uncomfortable" with the commercial real estate tax increase, said Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D). "At least we've got something on the table."

Still, Fairfax leaders noted state lawmakers' willingness to help localities raise taxes when the legislators steadfastly refused last year. "The irony to this whole issue is the General Assembly doesn't want to raise taxes, but it's okay if we raise taxes," said Fairfax Supervisor Joan M. DuBois (R-Dranesville).

Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille (D) said Loudoun and Prince William are "more Republican, so their position is going to be 'We don't want to raise taxes.' But I don't see a way out of this unless we all agree that some type of tax increase is necessary."

"This is a regional issue that needs to be resolved not in a political way, but in the best interest of the region from an economic standpoint," he said.

Outer-county leaders said they are not necessarily opposed to raising taxes on their constituents for transportation -- that is what they have done over the past few years as road money from Richmond has dried up.

Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York (I) said it is unlikely that his fellow members would agree to increase taxes, even though their constituents are mired in gridlock. York made his comments while stuck in traffic on Waxpool Road.

He said his colleagues would "have to take a long, hard look and ask themselves whether or not we want to solve what we've been griping about for" the past 10 years.

If this opportunity is squandered, York said, it will probably be "another 10 years before we get any help."

Staff writer Bill Turque contributed to this report.