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Say NO to Gross Receipts Tax Increase
The voters of Burlington have already said they do not want to pay more in property taxes. That does not mean they want to pay more for food. Business is not getting any easier. Our largest expenses are going up at an alarming rate. Our payroll expenses are up ten percent over last year. It is very difficult to find people to work. We are offering wages of eight and nine dollars per hour and even this rate is not very effective. People are simply not applying for the jobs. Because of the turnover rate, training is a constant priority. Introducing another tax rate of 10.5 (9% state and 1.5% city) percent is difficult to administer at the store level and an administratively at the office. There is a cost to reprogramming our registers. This costs us $400 per cash register. We need Burlington to protect its businesses. We need tax rates that are competitive with cities or our business will go to them. If this (resolution) gets passed, we (businesses) have two choices: Either way, it is not a positive thing to do! And, chances are, the city is not going to get all the revenue it thinks it is going to get, as any tax increase carries reactions. Please listen to the voters of Burlington. They do not want tax increases. Because they do NOT want their cost of living going up.
By Dave Simendinger
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