The latest public initiative by three Jacksonville civic-minded citizens, Tom Gorman, Doug Phillips and Michael Sewitsky to implement a meals tax to pay for our police service is a good start but a little short sighted.
Why force only twelve restaurant merchants to pay our safety burden? Let’s not discriminate. Why not the local realtors and bankers? Think about every home sold or purchased last year in Jacksonville. That’s millions of transactional dollars available to tax for our needs.
Why not levy a percentage of every bank ATM withdrawal or a percentage of all account assets held by Jacksonville residents? Please don’t tell us the banks can’t afford a little extra to keep us all safe. If they make more, shouldn’t we get more?
We don’t want to discriminate so let’s include the barbers, salons and spas. We can tax by the head. There is a price for vanity, right. Don’t forget the gift and clothing stores. We can take a percentage of every bauble, bling and blouse. After all, if those people can afford such non-necessities they can afford to pay for our necessities.
Medical professionals should pay, too. They definitely have the money and so do the insurance brokers in town. People looking for healing or financial protection from bad things that happen in life can pay a little more for our peace of mind.
The professional investment planners in town budget for a living so they’ll certainly understand the need to protect our household budgets. Why should we pay more for services received when outsiders can be taxed to lessen our burden.
Jacksonville is an artist community. There is generally not a lot of money in small town art but why not take a small fee for the right to create in our town? It’s our safety we’re talking about. Nothing should be off the table.
There are a couple of drive-thru businesses packed with lines of cars all day. A small percentage of every car should be considered. We may have to address the double taxation issue here with the bank and coffeehouse but the gas station is fair game.
Come to think of it, we could just implement a general sales tax! Oh wait, that’s been tried before and always gets voted down by the unenlightened and selfish. Never mind.
We support and applaud the three citizen visionaries spearheading this thoughtful and egalitarian initiative. You truly understand our need and right to be safe and secure without having to pay more ourselves for those services. We only ask you not discriminate against the few restaurant merchants.
Instead, require all small business people to pay our fair share. Anything less would be undemocratic. If the business owners resist our progress here, please make it clear they don’t have to pay personally. Speak slowly and explain that they need only charge their customers a little bit more. All we ask is the merchants collect the tax for us and submit to a monthly audit so we can verify we’re getting all our money.
We love this town!
Thank you for your compassion and fair-mindedness.
Michael Kell
GoodBean
As a budget committee member who has been angered by the way this proposal was presented, I applaud your position and interesting perspective.
Mike is 100% correct, the police are not protecting just a few, some how all that have the protection need to pay a portion.
Excellent analysis and perspective
Love Mike…especially his sensible perspective!
Thank you Mike!
Owned a house up on Conestoga Circle in J-Vile in the 90’s. Love J-Ville. Never go to Ashland for dinner because of sales tax. If J-Ville passes sales tax on food won’t go to J-Ville ever to eat. Goodbye J-Ville Inn. Goodbye Bella’s take-out pizza. Goodbye J-Ville Tavern and Boomtown as well. Will still hike the trails and go to the Britt, just won’t eat there anymore. When people in Medford find out about the tax many will stay away. Feel sorry for the restaurant owners. Why do they get singled out??? Maybe time to contract out police service to County cops like Gold Hill does. Cops are becoming too expensive.