The Vancouver Courier
Friday, October 05, 2007
Letter to the Editor
Byline: Deanna Geisheimer
Small business still hurting despite tax shift
To the editor:
Re: "Business lobby taxing sense," Sept. 21.
As a small business owner, it is distressing to see Allen Garr make businesses the scapegoat. What Mr. Garr fails to mention, or perhaps doesn't realize, is that the tax shift from businesses to residents should have been done a long time ago.
Over the last five-plus years the city has experienced exponential growth in the residential market place with little or no growth in the business sector. There has been no real adjustment made to adjust for disparity.
Growth should be taken into consideration--otherwise a shift in percentages is meaningless. Or, as has also been recommended by the Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition, taxes should be related to services received. If everyone had to pay for what they really used, perhaps we would make our politicians more accountable for how they spend our money.
The city has shifted one per cent last year from businesses to residents and approximately two per cent this year. Despite this so-called "shift" my taxes increased by over 155 per cent in five years. This is not sustainable.
I haven't been able to increase my prices by 155 per cent, as I am not only competing with like businesses in neighbouring jurisdictions, but I must also compete with the Internet. I have to remain competitive, but the unjustifiable and unsustainable taxes make it increasingly difficult for a business to remain in business. If the city doesn't take drastic action, we are at a very real risk of losing the businesses that provide us with the jobs, goods and services that are in our neighbourhoods. The only ones that will be able to afford to stay in business will be the extremely expensive shops or the big chains.
I would dare anyone to justify taxes of over $71,000 on 4,800-square-feet of commercial space (which is what I pay)! I would appreciate if the media would present the entire picture and not pit one sector against the other to create headlines or increase ratings. This impacts real people, not unknown business entities!
Deanna Geisheimer,
Art Works Gallery,
Vancouver
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