Two sides of the 1% sales tax question

Mountain Times
February 8, 2017

Do not rescind the 1 percent local option sale tax

Dear Editor,

Is the Select Board crazy?

The 1 percent local option sale tax component of the options tax contributes approximately $400,000 to $500,000 to the annual General Fund budget. Who do you think is going to make that up if it is rescinded? You and me in our property taxes. As it is, we have an increase this year, with the full options tax a part of the budget.

If the town is so flush, why were all of the departments asked to keep our budgets so lean this year? I can only assume the golf course debt is paid off. Is there is a magical source of money to cover this shortfall in the general fund budget that is not the taxpayers?

The resort management seems to be under a misconception about the purpose of the options tax though I have corrected them several times. Originally, it was voted in for economic development, but that was changed at a subsequent town meeting, when it was voted on to go into the General Fund to pay off the golf course debt, use some some money for economic development and go to paying other town expenses.

The other question I have is, why 2018? Is it possibly so that when building the village, no sales tax will have to be paid on all the materials needed? Whose interests is our Select Board looking after? I don’t think they are looking after mine.

Diane Scappaticci Rosenblum, Killington

Response

MountainTimes
February 15, 2017

The right side of the option tax proposal
Dear Editor,


In response to last week’s letter to the editor from Diane Scappaticci Rosenblum regarding the local option sales tax vote to rescind. First I’d like to start off by saying I have a lot of respect and regard for Mrs. Rosenblum, so Diane please don’t take this as an attack. While reading your opinion, which I take with respect, I noticed you’re question is: If the local option tax contributes approximately $400,000-$500,000 to the general fund, who do you think is going to make up the difference if it is rescinded? You went on to state: “you and me and our property taxes.”


Diane, the fact and the truth is there’s a second part to this proposal of rescinding the one percent option sales tax. I’m not sure if our board or town has clearly explained this other part, which is simple: The town no longer would fund the marketing and events and employees for this department that was created with the option tax funding. So with $400,000-$500,000 less in revenue one must realize in order for this to work there would be $400,000-$500,000 less in expenses.


So, Diane, there may be a difference to make up by taxpayers, but no where near $400,000 to $500,000. The truth may be under $100,000, as I see it. But let’s remember, we’re not allocating money as expenses for our town manager and other departments spending time with special events, marketing and other items hidden in the budget away from EDT. Sorry, I had to do this in a letter to the editor, but your letter went out first without the understanding of the expense and revenue side. Once again, just making sure that we are looking at all sides of the equation.

Thanks,

Jim Haff, Killington