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October 10, 2009
Chamber Protects Hospitality Jobs
There is a
strong belief that federal, state and local proposals to
impose additional alcohol taxes and fees are on the horizon.
The California Alliance for Hospitality Jobs (CAHJ) is
working to dissuade these proposals by educating the public
and policymakers about how higher alcohol taxes will cost
even more jobs in California and hinder the state’s economic
recovery. The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors
Bureau has joined with CAHJ in their efforts.
“Businesses cannot afford increased taxes and fees,
especially at time when our state continues to see
businesses move out of state,” stated Marna Smeltzer,
President/CEO of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce &
Visitors Bureau. “Redondo Beach businesses, amongst others,
have already experienced several tax increases over the past
year without an end in sight,” continued Smeltzer.
Californians have already seen $12.5 billion in new taxes
this year alone. Increasing taxes on wine, beer and spirits
on top of this huge tax increase will create a domino effect
resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of hospitality
jobs among those who can least afford it – waiters and
waitresses, store clerks, busboys and bartenders.
The Chamber urges its members to beware of catchy slogans,
such as “nickel a drink,” in which it only hides the fact
that these taxes or fees will impose a dramatic new burden
on restaurants and other small businesses in California. A
nickel a drink really means a 129% tax increase on spirits,
a 267% tax increase on beer and a 640% tax increase on wine.
These increases will have devastating impacts on California,
threatening 41,000 jobs and raising consumer costs by up to
100% more per drink.
The legislature just increased the state sales tax by 1
percent this year, generating an additional $256.1 million
from alcohol sales alone. Instead of coming back to
consumers and workers for still more money, lawmakers should
instead cut waste and figure out how to get the budget back
on track.
The Chamber believes raising taxes and increasing fees is
not the answer to put people back to work. Legislators need
to focus on job creation and improving California’s economy
by reviewing stringent regulations on business that force
employers to move out of state.
January 15, 2009
Redondo Beach Chamber
Supports the Protection of Vital Community Services
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
supports the placement of a measure on the ballot for the
voters to consider updating the City’s utilities users tax (UUT).
Redondo Beach is continuing a trend that many other cities,
Pasadena, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale and Los Angeles
among others, have started, which allows for updating
outdated language in order to protect the UUT as an existing
revenue source.
“The measure, in the most simplistic terms, is not a new tax
or rate increase nor is it a tax on the Internet,” stated
Marna Smeltzer, President and CEO of the Chamber. “We are
protecting a vital source of revenue that allows for the
necessary functions of public services,” continued Smeltzer.
Since 1969, Redondo Beach has used its UUT to fund essential
city services such as police, fire, senior services, storm
drains and other services that are vital to our quality of
life. Due to changing technology, recent court rulings and
new federal regulations, the voters will need to consider an
up-date to the existing, but outdated, UUT ordinance
language. The revised language will ensure that all
residents are treated equally regardless of the types of
telecommunications services they use.
With California facing a $42 billion deficit by fiscal year
2010 and funding cuts coming from the state, the UUT helps
ensure the community has a protected and reliable revenue
source to help maintain police, fire and 9-1-1 emergency
services, all of which keep Redondo Beach a safe place to
live and work. Every penny of the 2.6 million is legally
required to stay in Redondo Beach and can’t be taken by
Sacramento. All revenue is subject to annual independent
financial audits available for public review. Low-income
seniors are exempt from paying the UUT.
Click here
to contact the Redondo Beach Chamber
for more
information
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