In this Email:

• A Message from the VRTA President
• Insurance in General is Like Everything Else
• Today’s Interest Rates
• Tax Policies in Virginia 
• Important VRTA Dates to Remember

February 2023

President’s Message

Spring Delegate Assembly

April 18, 2023-April 19, 2023

            Plans and additions are in the works for VRTA’s Spring Delegate Assembly.  This event will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Midlothian, Virginia. 

A block of rooms has been reserved at a special rate.  The rooms may be reserved via a link that can be found on the Registration form, in the VRTA Spring Newsletter, on the website, vrta.org, and at the end of this article.  The Registration form must be postmarked by March 31, 2023.  Also, the deadline for making a room reservation is March 31, 2023.  Articles and pictures for the VRTA Spring Newsletter must be sent to Susan Martin (susanmartin730@gmail.com) by March 2, 2023.

Many of you will be pleased to know that the reception and door prizes will be featured again.  AARP State Director, Joyce Williams, oversees the reception.  She did an exceptional job for the Fall Conference.  We are also indebted to Jim Dau, AARP/VRTA State Director, for his role in making this event possible.  The Door Prize Patrol request each district president to encourage their units to contribute to the door prizes by donating gifts from their geographic area.  A free one-night stay certificate at DoubleTree, will be among the door prizes.  The Marketplace will be added to the lineup of events.  Those of you who wish to sell items are asked to provide the following information to Karen Whetzel, kswhetzel@gmail.com.  She will need to know the name of the group selling, what the group is selling, and what the money will be used for. (Scholarships, etc.)

Only the District and Unit banners will be displayed.  Since covid is still a concern, scrapbooks will not be available.  

Coffee, tea, and pastries will be available in the corridor near the Registration on Wednesday.

Following our luncheon we will have a special virtual presentation by Lily Liu, AARP’s historian, and archivist.  Lily specializes in storytelling and the history of NRTA/AARP.  Her presentation focuses on Ethel Percy Andrus who founded AARP. 

During the Spring Delegate Assembly, the Board of Directors will elect the Nominating Committee.  According to the Bylaws the committee consists of a chair and two additional VRTA members.

Because of the increase in hotel service charges and taxes, the Executive Committee has increased the Registration fee to $70.00.  According to reports, DoubleTree remains more palatable in the area of price increase than many other similar hotels.

As usual, your evaluation forms were not ignored.  There will be presentations designed to inform, enlighten, and entertain.  Upcoming articles will include conference updates.  Plan to attend the Spring Delegate Assembly and be the voice, resource and connection for your local Unit and District.

DoubleTree link for making room reservation: 

 *https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/ricksdt-vta-9e778fe0-e5d0-4c0f-aec2-c6

Jean Marrow

VRTA President

marrow.j@aol.com

Jean Marrow

VRTA President

Phone: 804-350-7719  

Email: marrow.j@aol.com

VRTA Benefits

Offered through Creekside Insurance Advisors, Inc.

Call Us Today!! (540) 722-2529

Toll-Free (800) 467 5425

Email: savenow@creeksideadvisors.net

Insurance in general is like everything else; it's always changing to meet the needs of consumers. 

Having coverage on your home and car and bundling has become part of our everyday understanding of insurance. We hear about it on the radio and on TV ads almost daily.  

Having coverage on your home and car is a good start. Have you stopped to consider your life insurance needs? When was the last time anyone explained to you the importance of having a personal umbrella? These coverages are also vitally important to your insurance portfolio, yet you never hear about bundling these coverages. 

Well, at Creekside Insurance Advisors, we believe in covering all of our clients needs. Ask your friendly "Creekside Agent" how you can take advantage of these significant multi-policy discounts.  

For more information visit



https://www.vrtabenefits.org/myga-rates

Phone (540) 722-2529

Toll-Free (800) 467 5425

Email: savenow@creeksideadvisors.net

(We are pleased that Tina Whitaker is now working with the VRTA Legislative Committee.  Tina has served as Legislative Chair for the Henrico School Personnel Association and District R for a number of years.  She has attended FOS (Fund Our Schools) coalition Zoom meetings, and in December she and Bonnie Atwood, VTA lobbyist, represented VRTA at The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis Summit in Richmond where she attended a workshop on taxes.  We thank her for this month’s article.)

                                      Tax Policies In Virginia

     Ben Franklin said, “In this world nothing is certain except death and taxes.”  At this time of year taxes are a major concern for most people and certainly for the General Assembly.  Taxes are a major source of government income used for services such as safety, education, health, libraries and road maintenance.  As taxpayers, we need to look closely at the taxes we pay and how that money is being used.

     Income tax in Virginia accounts for 70% of the state’s general fund revenues. Under Virginia’s income tax system there are four brackets, with the highest bracket starting at just $17,000. So any individual making $17,000 and up pays a rate of 5.75% which means millionaires and low to moderate income families are in the same tax bracket.  This has not changed in over three decades.  Our tax system is regressive and it should be progressive. The state’s JLARC study stated that people should be taxed according to their ability to pay and Virginia’s tax code could be made fairer by adjusting these brackets.

     Another tax, the sales tax, is also a key revenue source for the state.  This affects low and moderate-income families because they tend to spend more on basics that are taxed.  A modernized sales tax applied to services and digital products would have a more balanced mix of consumer spending.

     Lastly, corporate taxes, money that companies pay the state based on income, has a flat rate of 6%.  However, 63% of Virginia’s corporations pay zero in income tax because of loopholes and accounting actions they use to reduce their tax liability.

     There are several bills in the General Assembly to change the tax codes.  The governor has proposed budget amendments to cut $1 billion.  His recommendations include a reduction in the tax rate for the top tax bracket and a corporation tax rate cut.  He also wants to increase the standard deduction and create a tax break for small businesses.  On January 24, 2023, the Republican- controlled House of Delegates passed these amendments. They will now move to the Democrat- controlled Senate for approval.  These are the following bills and the sponsor :  HB1863(Phillip Scott - R),  SB1423 and SB851 (David Suetterlein - R),  SB1355 (Stephen Newman – R).

     A more progressive and equitable tax code that closes loopholes and ensures Virginians pay a fair share would be better and benefit all citizens.

Tina Whitaker

Bea Morris 

VRTA Legislative Chairperson

Email: beam1340@verizon.net

Important VRTA Dates to Remember

April 17-19, 2023: Spring Conference at The Double Tree