Western Rockingham chamber against tax increase

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: May 2, 2008

Rockingham County Commissioners are placing a quarter-percent sales tax rate increase before the citizens of Rockingham County. The Western Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is neither in favor of this rate increase, nor any other tax rate increase at this time.

The Board of Directors feel that the area businesses of the county must compete with those counties across our northern border, who already have a 40 percent less sales tax rate than Rockingham County. Many concerned citizens question why our county budget has grown at a rate much higher than inflation, and why past increases have not been more than sufficient to cover this new education initiative without adding back the suspended sales tax rate.

The WRCC Board of Directors supports public education and the many professionals who daily take an active role educating our children. But, we do not support a Sales Tax Rate Hike to be placed upon the citizens of Rockingham County to achieve revenue for school construction. We, as business leaders, are asked each day to do more with less and to become more efficient and competitive in the market place.  If Rockingham County continues to increase property taxes and the sales tax to a rate higher than our neighbors, in our opinion it will be more difficult to recruit new businesses and retain existing ones.

Thank you for the opportunity to express our concerns.  We do not feel this is a supportive and appropriate action for our current business climate.  We do appreciate the opportunity to voice our concerns regarding the proposed sales tax increase on the upcoming ballot.

Burton Matherly, President
Western Rockingham chamber of Commerce