CODY SOSSAMON PUBLISHER
There has been a lot of chatter on social media over the past few weeks about the tax increases proposed by Cherokee County Council and Gaffney City Council.
The one thing everyone agrees on: nobody likes paying taxes and nobody wants the taxes we already pay to be increased.
As a business owner, tax increases are especially difficult to swallow.
I understand, however, that just like my personal and business expenses increasing each year, so too is the cost to provide services provided by the city and county.
A business can raise prices to cover increased expenses as you have no doubt seen when paying for a meal at a restaurant, buying groceries, gas or clothing.
The thing about that is we can decide if we want to eat out or buy those new shoes. We can reduce our travel and in so doing use less gas. At the grocery store we can shop judiciously. Maybe not buy the soft drinks and cookies and check the bargains that Ingles and Food Lion offer in the weekly circulars found in The Ledger each Wednesday.
In short, as individuals there are ways we can reduce our expenses.
Businesses can likewise shop around for the best deals on services and supplies needed to operate.
But the one thing none of us can avoid is paying taxes that are set by our elected officials.
Let’s not forget that when they raise taxes, they are affected too.
I believe without a doubt the administrators who propose the budgets do all in their power to keep expenses at a bare minimum. I’ve compared local budgets to others our size and can tell you we are well below average. The are two main ways governments can increase revenue: growth and raise taxes.
With all the housing developments and industrial projects that have been announced, you would think there has been a windfall of tax revenue. The key word there is ‘announced.’ Many of those housing developments have not had the first home built. Some new industrial projects have materialized but others have closed. Like Timken.
So that leaves us with raising taxes to cover the increased cost governments face, just like the increased costs residents and business owners are experiencing. Those who own property and cars are not the only ones affected by tax increases. Most rental rates will increase to cover the increases.
Below is a chart that shows what a 16.7 millage rate will cost in addition to what is already being paid.
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