Sen. John Watkins, Powhatan Republican, today said he is concerned there could be more fallout from the Virginia Supreme Court ruling that the General Assembly did not have the power to give an unelected body authority to raise taxes for regional road and rail projects.

"This not only questions the ability of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to raise 'fees' for transportation needs, but it would certainly question the ability of many other authorities (be they water and sewer authorities, toll authorities, port authorities and airport authorities) that are created either by the state or by the local governments and are operated by an appointed (non-elected) body," Mr. Watkins said.

The story we ran about the ruling is here.

NVTA members yesterday told me that they share the concern.

"Does that mean that local boards of supervisors cannot allow local water boards to collect fees for service?" asked Martin Nohe, a Prince William County Board of Supervisors who sits on the NVTA.

Mr. Watkins, in his letter, said it will take some time to sort out and it could requires come clarification from the Supreme Court.

"It was clearly stated in the opinion that 'if payment of regional taxes and fees is to be required by a general law, it is the prerogative and the function of the General Assembly,'" he said. "In other words, the General Assembly must impose the fees or taxes. The implications of this decision could potentially be far reaching. This Supreme Court case clearly accentuates the importance of legislation dealing with the development of local and state infrastructure."

— Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times