Tax
Local - Buy Local Businesses, property owners and citizens living in Graham County pay taxes to a plethora of “taxing authorities” including numerous school boards, Eastern Arizona College, Graham County, Gila Tech District, Fire District, Flood District, City of Safford, City of Thatcher and a host of others—check out you tax bills sometime. After collecting taxes from citizens of Graham County to fund their budgets, it is all too common that these same government entities decide to spend that money outside Graham County. Schools go to Tucson to buy copiers available locally. Basketball uniforms are bought in Phoenix—overlooking local outlets. And many, many more. I propose that any entity which taxes citizens of Graham County should spend those dollars locally if at all possible. The excuse of “it’s cheaper” isn’t all that convincing. A business or property owner cannot say “I see property taxes are cheaper in Pinal County, let me pay taxes there”! Arguing the purchase in Phoenix “Saves taxpayer money” is a little lame when you took those dollars from that taxpayer in the form of tax levies in the first place. Each taxing entity should pass a resolution that any expenditure of tax dollars will be directed to locally owned Graham County businesses first, before looking outside the county. Any expenditure outside Graham County will require a written explanation. I would suggest a three point check off: A) Not available locally or contractual/warranty requirement to obtain at specified source. B) Not available locally in time required due to (1) Emergency or (2) Unalterable schedule requirement. (Circle one) C) Other (explain) _______________, Local business should be given a 10% price advantage over out of county sources—after all sales taxes collected will come back to the county, and supporting local business strengthens the local economy. Local school boards and local law enforcement pleaded with citizens of Graham County to pass the recent one percent sales tax increase. We gave it to them by overwhelming vote. Now is the time to remember who GAVE you that money. Spend those tax dollars with the constituents you are so happy to appeal to for tax increases. As the campaign season continues, please remind politicians: Tax local – Buy local. |
