Nothing like a 40% tax increase in an economic downturn.

Where was the “voice of the business community” Monday night?

When the Homestead Exemption was in the sub-comittee the Chairman of the Board of PWCRC testified against it in Richmond and it passed the House. After the Chamber lobbyed hard against it, Senator Colgan blocked it from passing. The Chamber and Colgan believed it would lead to a tiered tax rate.

We’re already paying for roads. PWC is the only county that funds their own roads. Why should we pay again. Forget NVTA, and a state wide gas tax. Give us our fair share back from Richmond.

The survey reflects previous proposals by the NVTA &/or GA, pretty much verbatim. There doesn’t seem to be an endorsement, more of a “this is what is on the table, how do businesses feel about it?” Don’t get me wrong- I’m glad that the courts did away w/ that mish-mash of hidden fees the NVTA threw together, and would LOVE to see more government efficiency (why did the BOCS max out spending as if the real estate bubble would never burst—don’t get me started!). But, I think this blog is pointing the finger in the wrong direction. Something does NEED to be done about our chronically under-funded roads. All voters should be looking at the GA that developed such a flawed transportation package instead of an organization that is actually trying to get a handle on what its members want.

If you own a business and are worried about your interests being misrepresented, fill out the survey and utilize the “other” boxes to your heart’s content instead of just complaining that you are not represented. My humble advice…

Very skewed. Unacceptable representation of the business community. The chamber is long overdue for competent leadership –president and chairs.

We already paying for lunch, breakfast, dinner, dessert and a movie!

I will, as a casual observer, throw my 2 cents into this discussion.

No one wants to pay more taxes than they have to. But you only get what you pay for. So the question becomes: what level of services do you want in PWC. Do you want quality schools, well maintained roads, good police protection, enforcement of zoning and building codes, etc.? These are the community qualities that attact business. The best way to attract business is by creating a community where people want to live and thst businesses want to serve. Business will go where people want to spend their money.

Business tax incentive are unnecessary, and likely harmful in the long run. The incentives transfer local infrastructure burden to the residents of the community, and once started are nearly impossible to end.

The question PWC needs to answer is what kind of community does it want to be. And once that question is answered, the rest will fall into place.

Although I don’t agree with anything I’ve read on this blog, take care old friend.

The Chamber’s should make healthcare a TOP priority. I don’t see it mentioned on their web-site, was it a legislative priority in 2008?

I can’t really figure out just what the value a Chamber of Compromise provides to anyone other than BIG business interests.

The slow economy or as some say “recession” are caused by high fuel costs and too many TAXES!

Ari

There has been no economy for the past ten years. People have been borrowing more and more against the equity in their homes because their incomes have not been increasing. If taxes passed on to the public under the name of “Fees, Admissions, Proffers and other such devious names” were deductible on our tax returns the public would get money back from the Federal government. As long as it is not called a tax the Republicans what the public to think it is not a tax. Just another Con by the politicians. HOnesty and common sense is not part of the BOCS or the GA and especialy those from PWC. Yes high fuel prices are a major problem but lack of increase in take home salary is more of the problem. Part of it is that people just spend and spend what they know they can not pay back either.

Its easy to complain work with us to find 300 million in the budget to cut instead of raising taxes

Here is the truth about the funding formulas. NoVa breaks fairly evenly on maintanence even though we have less road miles due to the fact that we have more volume which requires more frequent maintanence and major work on interstates must be done at night

As far as new construction is concerned we also break even. I do have an issue there though because too much is being spent on trolleys bikepaths and sidewalks instead of roads and buses in my opinion

In this case you have 5 or 6 representatives from large companies making all the decisions, and I bet most of them can also be found on the Economic Development Council.

Some say Corporations like Carlisle Group are the new world order, we seem to have a few fat cats around here that are trying to do the same thing and they don’t like Chairman Stewart. They’ll destroy the county before allowing him to smell like a rose.

Our streets are free of gang violance, schools will have fewer students and less crowding so they can provide a world class education, no more long waits in hospital emergency rooms, small efficient government with low taxes, lots of parks and open space that where you can go and feel safe. We have even reduced the traffic congestion!!

As for businesses moving here, as long as the planning commission, developers and Board of County Supervisors encourage and approve Class A commercial development it will be the most desirable place to do business.

Of course you’re passing costs on to the consumer.

The problem is that after all is said and done the amount of profit you are making after passing your costs on is diminishing.

Higher taxes will force you to raise prices, reduce your own pay, move somewhere with lower taxes or go out of business.

My thoughts exactly. They fought against the Homestead Exemption because it would lead to a bifurcated tax rate!

The survey is totally bogus because it intentionally slants the responses in favor or TAXES. More, and more, and more ways to take our money as if taxes are the absolute solution for everything.

The slow economy or as some say “recession” are caused by high fuel costs and too many TAXES!

I don’t know how commercial compares to residential in the county, but in the Park, as of 2006, the value of residential property had gone up significantly while commercial property increased by a much smaller amount.

I suspect this is because the creative financing so many used to overpay for homes was not even offered for commercial property.