Federal workforce cuts could create unemployment levels in Northern Virginia not seen in living memory. That’s a potential problem for rural Virginia. – Cardinal News
The biggest geographical source of income tax in Virginia comes from Northern Virginia. In all, the D.C. suburbs account for about 40% of the state’s revenue, so anything that’s state-funded, from schools to roads to prisons ultimately owes a lot of its funding to the economic health of Northern Virginia. Rural school systems get most of their funding from the state, and the biggest source of state funding is the income tax.

For additional statistics, visit Northern Virginia’s population decline is a problem for the whole state – Cardinal News
The biggest single source of tax revenue in Virginia is the individual income tax; 67% of general fund revenue comes from personal income taxes. Fairfax County alone accounts for 22% of the state’s taxable income, according to the annual report from the state’s tax commissioner. Altogether, Northern Virginia accounts for 40% of the state’s taxable income. The bottom line: Northern Virginia is subsidizing rural school systems (and lots of other things).

Information compiled by Susan McSwain