Dear Editor,
The state legislature is presently considering a funding bill that contains onerous provisions detrimental to us all. The bill H.489 sections 8 through 10 propose to give the Department of Taxes the authority to collect delinquent tax debts by garnishing wages and attaching property without a court hearing. This runs counter to due process of law.Section 19 modifies existing deductions for income taxes. Do not eliminate the mentioned deductions or cap the mortgage interest deduction.
Sections 49 through 56 proposes to tax various services. Do not tax services. This would place a extra burden on service businesses to collect the tax and a financial burden on those paying them. It would cause many small businesses to close. In my case I would probably close my law practice, sell our home and move out of state. We are already burdened with enough regularity requirements which take up our time, hurt productivity and reduce income.The legislature needs to focus on reducing spending and cutting taxes, not increasing them.
The population of the Town of Killington has dropped to under 900 from over 1200 since Act 60 was enacted. Many of the people who left, including many clients and friends, got fed up with taxes and left. Many primary residences became second homes. When this happens there is less business generation here. If my wife and I were to move out of state our house would probably become a second home. The following businesses, to name a few, would be impacted by the loss of our business: Eastwood Animal Clinic, Petco, Catamount Pet Supply, Hannaford, Price Chopper, Choices Restaurant, The Foundry, Domenic’s Pizza, Killington Market, Swiss Farm Inn, various gas stations, Green Mountain Power, CV Oil, McCormack Guyette and Associates, Beauchamp and O’Rourke, Yankee Paint, Olivia’s Market, Pip’s Barber Shop, Mountain Cuts, Robert Schmidt DDS, Durgins Cleaning, Kinney Motors, Garvey Nissan, Killington Ski Resort.
The loss of business from people leaving reduces the income, sales, meals and other taxes formerly paid by these people. It reduces the income to the businesses these people patronized hence reducing the taxes the businesses pay. The loss of business also eliminates jobs furnished by these businesses further reducing the tax revenues generated by the employees. The Legislature needs to focus on reducing spending and lowering taxes, to encourage people to stay and appeal to new residents. The net result would be an increase in tax revenues by having more people earning and spending more.
David Rosenblum, Esq., Killington
