Filed under: Campaign, Economic Stimulus | Tags: Bass Pro Shop, County Commission, Hillsborough County Florida, Ken Hagan, Politics
St. Pete Times business writer Robert Trigaux writes today about Florida’s strong business tax ranking. He notes that Florida has the best business tax climate of any other state this side of the Mississippi River; number five in the nation.
One of the things that makes Florida so attractive is sales taxes. Additional tax incentives would do little to influence business to locate here. He questions why, if taxes are already so favorable, why are we falling over ourselves to offer yet lower taxes to certain new or expanding businesses? He speculates that it may have more to do with the elections than the reality of attracting business.
Commissioner Ken Hagan has proposed a ballot measure that would exempt county taxes for select companies. Hagan cites Bass Pro Shops which will not locate here unless we vote to give them a free ride on taxes.
What voters have to decide is, do we want to give an out-of-town sporting goods company reduced taxes while we increase the taxes on established local sporting goods companies?
When you reduce taxes for one, you increase it for others to make up the difference.
There is no free ride when it comes to tax incentives.
Let the voters decide.
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"Let the voters decide" 