If Not Now, Then When?
Luke Kornbluh argued in yesterday’s The Daily Journal that tax abatements are good for Millville. In his argument he stated:
. . . my business, along with four others, had our abatement rescinded. The result — increased tax burden at a time when small business can least afford it and, potentially, the closure of a business and a loss of tax revenue and jobs.
My understanding is that the abatements that were rescinded were done because those businesses failed to meet deadlines and/or had abatements improperly provided to them. That aside, Kornbluh states a central issue for me; namely, this is not the time to raise taxes on the taxpayers.
Kornbluh is looking after his own interests. I can’t fault him for that. Yet, when his business, whatever it is (he did not indicate what it is), was required to pay his fair share, all taxpayers in Millville benefited.
Let’s repeat that. Whatever one’s opinion is on using tax abatements to lure businesses to town, certainly all agree that plenty of businesses pay a full load of taxes. They aren’t doing anything wrong. By paying their taxes, they are supporting Millville. A company that previously had a tax abatement and still pays its taxes is a company that is supporting the community. Sure, it would prefer to pay fewer taxes, but Millville receives its full complement of taxes. The community is not losing here.
Kornbluh in trying to reduce his share argues that raising taxes hurt Millville. Hardly. The town is bringing in more taxes than it had been. Sure, it’s a dance for the city. If rescinding the tax abatement forces the closure of the business, then the community loses as no tax revenue is collected. There is no indication that any business has suffered due to a tax abatement being lost.
This economy is the worst during my life time. Yet, government sees no reason to stem the rise of taxes. Philosophically, that is problematic. If government sees no issue with raising property taxes 7% (8ยข/$100 assessed value increase over current rate of $1.13) in this economy, there is no reason to think government will ever cut taxes. If not now, then when?
Also blogged on this date . . .
- Obama's ED Head - 2008
- I Don't Know What to Make of This - 2007
- The NFL - 2007
- Organizing - 2006
- Home "Tweet" Home - 2004
- Are School Vouchers Constitutional? - 1998
- Jackson v. Benson - 1998
Tags: abatement, Cumberland, Millville, New Jersey, Politics, property-tax
