Chesterfield Meals Tax bad for consumers and for small businesses

Retailers once again face additional government regulation as the referendum for a prepared foods tax is presented to voters Nov. 5, 2013. If it passes, consumers may make the decision to dine away from home, or pick up a quick meal at the grocery store. The burden, however, will fall on the retailers to collect an additional tax, which will be mandated to them by the respective boards of supervisors in Chesterfield and Henrico counties. 

Retailers, which include restaurants and all businesses that provide products, goods or services for sale to consumers, are in business for many reasons. Some make the decision to continue a family legacy. Some make the decision to venture on their own to open a small business. And some join larger organizations. All, however, have the common goal to succeed individually, professionally and to contribute effectively to their communities. Retailers are faced with a multitude of regulations in order to conduct business daily, and operating a successful business is more than challenging these days. Our local retailers must implement regulations and mandates they often have no opportunity to influence. The proposed tax on prepared foods is another such mandate.

Implementation of the proposed tax will impact the public at every level. Retailers will face the responsibility to purchase and implement software for their cash-collection systems in order to recognize a food that falls under the meals tax ordinance, as well as operation systems to collect and remit the tax. This will be an additional burden to the retailers. Read the Full Story on Chesterfield Monthly

Please do all you can to fight Chesterfield and Henrico trying to raise your taxes

Please do all you can to fight this in Chesterfield and Henrico. Don't fall for the ruse. Every time any level of government tries to raise your taxes they do their level best to convince you that it's for a worthy cause. It's for the children, it's for schools, it's for teachers, it's for roads, yada, yada, yada. Of course the money never goes to those things, the government finds other places to spend it (See Virginia's recent tax increase that is supposed to go to our roads - even though we were already supposed to have money set aside for that).

At no time does the government talk about cutting spending or weeding out graft, corruption, and inefficiency. And remember this stuff when elections roll around. NO MORE TAXES!

Read an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch on how feverishly the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors is trying to promote this Tax Increase here.

I passed this on from Floyd Bayne

Genius of our local government officials raising taxes (on our food)

Ah, the genius of our local government officials. They seem to have learned nothing from history.

Chesterfield and Henrico Counties wish to implement a "meals tax." Ostensibly this is to make up for revenue shortfalls in other areas and to help pay for schools. It's always about the children, isn't it? Of course we are told that if this tax is not implemented that the real estate tax or some other tax will necessarily have to be increased. As with the federal and state governments at NO TIME IS CUTTING SPENDING EVEN MENTIONED! No, we cannot possibly find ways to cut government spending or weed out inefficiency, that would require too much actual work on someones part.

Just as the state, thank you Republican governor Bob McDonnell, had to increase our taxes to pay for roads. This, even though we already have taxes in place for that purpose and those funds are to be used specifically for roads. Yet, once again, there was no money in the fund, so we had to raise taxes. But back to the meals tax. OK, you super-geniuses you, see if this makes sense to you:

The tax is implemented and the cost is passed on to the consumer (Just study economics 101 for a brief while and you'll understand). Because jobs and money are tight right now disposable income is at a premium. People decide to stop eating out at local restaurants as often as before. This means the restaurant's business suffers. They do not bring in as much money, thus the taxes our elected representatives hoped to raise are far less than expected. Because business is slow the restaurants have to lay people off, as they are unable to meet their overhead, which includes salaries and benefits. These laid off workers now must either a) find a new job in a poor job market or b) go on the government dole. If they choose B guess who pays for that. Guess what is going to have to happen to bring in the money to pay for the "benefits" for these new welfare recipients. That's right - Another new tax increase! Of course we could always borrow the money from China or just print up some more.

What a bunch of incompetent, bungling, non-thinking imbeciles!