So many signs and so much publicity for the 1% TCED tax that is coming up for vote again tomorrow. I for one am against the tax; however, I am not within the voting district so I don't get a say in the matter. Some things that i would hope everyone voting tomorrow would consider.
1.) Branson has seen no noticeable growth in the ears since the tax was originally passed. Now, this does not mean that Banson has not benefited from the tax, given the state of the economy we might have seen a very large decrease in revenue if not for the money spent on advertising.
2.) Taxes in many parts of the city are nearly 10%, 3% of that accounts for state taxes and in many areas as much as 3% accounts for TIF taxes and there is a 4% city tax. So that adds up to 10% in the TIF areas, but what about the rest of the town? Why should I be paying 10% tax on a hamburger on Main Street and 10% for the same burger in Branson Hills development? Branson Hills has a TIF tax; whereas, main street has no such tax. So I'm being taxed at 4% by the city at Branson Hills and 7% on Main Street? Maybe my math is wrong, I don't know.
3.) "The tax is paid for by the visitors, not the locals." What a bunch of crap. If you eat out, go to the movies, go to a show or do anything except for go to the grocery store then you are paying that 1%. I don't remember getting a "locals" discount card so that I don't have to pay that 1% tourism tax.
4.) I thought that the Branson area was made up of mainly "Tea-Party" Republicans, I guess I was mistaken in thinking that Tea-Party members were against taxes in general and believed that money was best spent by the people and not the government. Oh yeah and, for those of you who are not aware, your Mayor is a registered Democrat; which would not matter to me as long as she was a good Mayor, but she's a lousy Mayor.
5.) Who is paying for all of the advertising for the TCED vote? I highly doubt that the major players are paying for all of those pretty signs and radio advertisements. It is likely that the TCED is actually paying for all of it, money that is not being spent to bring people to town but instead is being spent to continue taxing those who do come to town for another 1 cent of every dollar they spend while here.
Closing thought: Maybe the City of Branson could spend the money they are collecting from the current 4% sales tax, 7% in some areas if my math isn't wrong, on drawing in tourists and advertising instead of spending it on making up ridiculous regulations that drive away new business, hurt existing businesses and keep away big name performers just to make sure that the people who own this town are the only ones making any money.
It doesn't matter how much money you spend on advertising a turd sandwich, once people figure out that it's a turd sandwich they will stop buying it.
