The proponents of the tax have already started pushing that the extra quarter-cent sales tax is only 25 cents for every $100 spent.
They usually use a similar ploy regarding marginal property tax increases, and it’s effective.
But what about the effect of the sales tax increase on businesses and the county as a whole?
Proponents say it will raise $1.8 million a year
That is $1.8 million taken every year out of local citizen’s pockets and into government’s. That is $18 million over a ten-year period.
We want people to spend their money in our county
Local businesses, particularly that sell higher priced items, already complain of a real disadvantage because sales tax is so much lower in Virginia. We need to be recruiting more retailers into our county so people will spend their money here. Higher sales taxes are a disincentive for those retail businesses.
The overall tax burden in our county is already very high
Neighboring Virginia has lower personal income tax, corporate tax, sales tax, gas tax, and in general, property tax. Neighboring North Carolina counties have lower property tax. Our state has the highest tax burden in the Southeast region from Texas to Virginia. People want local government to recruit businesses to come here and bring jobs. Like it or not, businesses and jobs, whenever possible, will locate in areas where their overhead costs, including taxes, are lesser rather than greater. This is devastating to the county’s tax base and ability to pay for services.
The proponents already have a list of capital improvements and services that exceed $80 million
Keep in mind the tax will only raise $1.8 million a year. And, that is gross. Consider the effect of sales tax revenues we are already losing every year, because people choose to do their buying outside the county. A higher sales tax will only make this problem potentially worse.
VOTE NO ON “COUNTY SALES AND USE TAX” ON THE BACK OF THE BALLOT MAY 6
