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For local merchants, a new 1-cent school tax would be...
ONE PENNY TOO MANY
Published Thursday, November 5, 2009
Proprietors of the two things in life one cannot do without — groceries and gas — say the addition of a 1-cent sales tax would hurt business.
When Roy Mohon, the owner of the county’s Gitty Up-N-Go convenience stores, and Sonya Sanders, manager of Andalusia’s Piggly Wiggly, heard Covington County’s three school systems are expected to ask for a 1-cent tax increase at an upcoming commission meeting, they started getting nervous.
“When the county had that 18-month 1-cent sales tax for education a while back, it hurt business,” Sanders said. “For (people in the grocery business), it’s easy for our customers to just say, ‘I’m going across the (Alabama-Florida) line where there is no tax on groceries.’ When they do that, we lose and the county loses too.
“Then the county stopped that tax, and it helped,” she said. “Now with the economy the way it is, I just think that passing any kind of tax is not a good idea. It affects everyone on the whole spectrum. At the first of the month, sales are down for us because that’s typically when people on a fixed income begin to get their checks. It will slowly pick up and then begin to go down again.
“If you increase the tax, that’s less money that people on a fixed income have to spend,” she said. “Combine that with the fact they aren’t going to get a cost of living adjustment this year and cause them not to spend on that front, and it’s like they’re hit twice … It’s just not a good idea.”
Mohon agreed with Sanders’ business logic. In his line of work, when prices rose for things such as for gas and cigarettes, other sales slumped because consumers didn’t have the extra income.
“Look at it from this way, estimates show about half the people in Covington County use tobacco products,” Mohon said. “Those people have seen a huge tax increase over the last year or so because of our government. And when they decided to stop smoking, retailers lost money. For me, the principle is the same. Those people didn’t buy the extra things and that cost retailers money.
“Also, people have to spend what they have to spend, not a penny more,” he said. “When you talk about taking that penny, that cuts into what people have to spend. When it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Both Mohon and Sanders agreed helping education “is a good thing” but questioned why revenues were hinged on a fluctuating number such as sales tax collection.
“If they really want to something (to raise education dollars), then pass a property tax,” Mohon said. “And make that money go to the schools and nothing else and let the people vote on it.”
Comments
Posted by fredburpel (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 4:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Got to agree with Roy, when it's gone it's gone. But, if the county passes a property tax, the only people it hurts is the ones who have made the investment to purchase and live in the county. Someone (can't fix stupid) suggested a fee on families who have students attending county schools, boy that would stir up a wild fire. We are taxed enough! The eldery, has paid their fair share and now lets get more for schools that think exterior improvements instead of education. Look at the waste that the school spends each year and then hold out their hands for more. Some teachers spend out of their pocket to provide extras in their classrooms for students, and parents providing things from tissue to crayons. It's time for Hubbard and his clowns to feed themselves and get out of our plates. Anyone know what it cost for a three nightstay and a ballrom at the Hilton for one hundred people to resolve the short fall issue? Hubbard will. If any comissioner votes for any tax, I hope you are voted OUT.
Posted by MoreCowBell (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 5:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We'll never tax ourselves into prosperity.
Posted by DarrylDavis (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This statement is disturbing to read from the above article
: "If they really want to something (to raise education dollars), then pass a property tax,” Mohon said. “And make that money go to the schools and nothing else and let the people vote on it.” Using the phrase " It's for the children" has been a politicians verbage as a last ditch effort to generate revenue so he can continue in his spending money like a drunken sailor .
People can't afford the unreasonable taxes on their propery right now. ( Property belongs to the State if folks have to pay an extortion fee at the end of every year). Folks had better open their eyes and look down the road a year or two and see if the same trend continues that most will be living in government housing and or the woods. Government is hungry for your earnings and that means lack for everyone. Blind faith and trust in men who deserve no such trust will cost people their property and land before they figure out what happened. No one likes sleeping in the rain.
Posted by ToldYouSo (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Very selfish on Mohon's part. In favor of his retail business, he would pass a property tax on those who've sacrificed to own that property. A property tax is a sly way of proposing more "welfare". Why did not he suggest "consolidation" and the hundreds of thousand of dollars which would be saved in bloated salaries????
Posted by rgodwin (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DarrylDavis : excellentt post, I've never seen it put more clearly!
Posted by rgodwin (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
fredburpel : I somehow skipped over your post and it was excellent also and no, "you can't fix stupid." I can remember having having to send supplies to school when my kids were in school that our tax dollars should have been sufficient for. I also like you, know that many teachers do take money out of their own pockets to supply things that should be supplied by the school. The public school system is still a government organization and no government organization ever has done anything more efficient than the private sector. The money per child spent in this state is ridiculous to still be begging for more. If the government wasn't involved with the indoctrination of our children and schools were run by the private sector, we would have more say so about what our kids are being taught in our schools and our good teachers could probably even be paid more. We are too dependent on the government and I realize that private education may never happen as a whole, but as long as we are overly dependent on government it will always mean higher taxes. Have a great day everyone!
Posted by pathenley (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone know if the Florida school system begs for supplies from the parents, gets on tv asking for computers to be donated, raise taxes in an area ,or if their teachers have to put out their own money to see their classroom has what is needed for the kids ?
Posted by MsGRITS (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They (floridians) also DO NOT PAY TAXES on prescriptions or food. There are fixin' to be 158 more members of our community unemployed. Go ahead and kick a mule when he's already down. AS far as the smokers and drinkers go. I am a recent (1year) non smoker and I say TAX THEM AGAIN, on and on and on and on.... I'm worried about the crime rate going up with so many people going through this recession and the lay offs. LAYOFF the taxation!!!!
Posted by workingman (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tax's, Tax's, Tax's, we should all stop posting remarks that the county little daddy's will never hear of let lone read and go to the meeting coming up and there let your voice's
loud and clear.
The county will pass this tax because, the county will get around 44.1%.
Let the business around covington county give back the 2% of the sales tax they are paid from the state for the collections of the same.
As far as begging for computers for the school's. They can be recieved for free, if the great know-it-all's would just think.
I went to Straught School Elem., Principal and with the Principal of Red Leval with a porposal to raise funds (large) for the schools. After presentation was told by both they could see where this would a great way to raise funds.
Thinking I had the go-a-head, I raised $12,353.00 just as a start for Red Leval. I had went back to speek with Principal's several times and just hit a dead wall with NO RESPONCE) other than yes we need to do this.
So I stoped, sent the money back. The schools by now could have all the computers they would use and need. By this time over a year later they could have had as much as $500,000.00. With this being said one can not do good if one is not allowed to do so.
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This will not be a very popular opinion but I dont personally care if they tax beer and cigarettes at a rate of 20 times retail price. Sorry, but if it comes down to paying more for food and medicine or vices...it is a no brainer to me.
Posted by thugg4life (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gitty up n go must be crying for money, charging for use of your visa card if its less than $4. THAT's what's stopped me from going there.
Posted by purelogic (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't agree with higher property taxes. We already pay state income tax and property tax. Floridans pay no state income tax, but their property taxes are higher. If we raise our property tax to match theirs, then we should do away with the state income tax here.
Posted by knos (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Car license fees would be the safer bet here. Covington's fees are lower than just about anyone's in the state. Tack another twenty bucks onto that sucker and you're still nowhere near that the are in the surrounding counties.
There's my idea. Raise the tax by way of car licenses. That way it hits everyone. Not just the landed nobility out there.
Adieu!
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
biscuitsandhoovergravy wrote..."Sorry,but if it comes down to paying more for food or medicine or vices...it is a no brainer to me".I agree with you to a point there biscuits,but if you look around it seems that food has become more of a vice than smoking.What I mean by that is everyone's overweight.
Posted by SouthernAttitude1 (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This tax issue needs to die like the bingo issue. No more taxes anywhere!
We are all taxed to death and get sick of someone else wanting a free ride. Make do with the funds that are there, for goodnes sake.
Posted by chefjones (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
L OT T E R Y
Posted by chefjones (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Florida has the Lottery and no they don't ask for hand outs and Teachers don't buy there own supplies. I lived in Florida and I knew a teacher in my town and he made over $60,000 a year.
I don't know the answer but I have some suggestions for all of our education systems that only cover a county with some 6,000 children.
Think about this, people with no children in the system, if we don't supply the money that the schools need this generation will not be as educated as we need them which will result in lower paying jobs which will result in less money paid into the social security program which is where some of your retirement will come from. A better educated youth will mean a higher probability you will collect social security. Just a thought.
Posted by coolhand (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the tax is added, it will be like it was in the 90's when they added a 4 mil tax, then they had more money than they knew what to do with, So they built the Arena,among other things that was a waste of money. Al tho everything has when up , I don't think a 1 cent tax is the answer. I think a salary cap would be a good place to start. And if it comes downs to a tax, put it on everything, but not a 1cent. A 4 mil would be more than enough ,as long as they don't waste it like the years up until now
Posted by MoreCowBell (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The average teacher salary in Florida is $43,000 +/-. What is the average teacher salary in Alabama?
Posted by lookeyhere (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$40,347
Posted by towncryer (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just FYI: These figures are from the 2005 Alabama Department of Education Statistics.
•Average Teacher Salary (Bachelor’s Degree): $29,538
•Average Teacher Salary (Master’s Degree): $33,968
•Average Teacher Salary (PhD): $39,286
Teacher salaries in Alabama are near the bottom tier according to surveys by the American Federation of Teachers, which places Alabama 46th in the nation.
Posted by dickie (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 9:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
main thing is the money really going to the school or in the county pockets suchs as commisioners
Posted by pathenley (anonymous) on November 7, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lottery !
Posted by jamthree (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
answer-lottery and pot tax..
Posted by rlb1940 (anonymous) on November 8, 2009 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's running amuck, Covington County has no real clear leader out front right now, no authority where 'the buck stops here'. Everybody has an opinion, outside influences like cable talk shows, (just pick your flavor) Fox, CNN, MSNBC, influencing local opinion and chat. Educational leaders are like drunken sailors with their budgets (sorry for the comparison). The nation is broke and banks are unsafe and a 'risky business'. Alabama ain't going do any lottery, forget it ! Their going to pass the tax to keep the 'property owners' happy because thats the real voters that keep them in office, (commissioners). It will hurt the Andalusia shoppers and Andalusia's sales tax will decline over time, people love to travel, and this will give them excuse they need to ride to nearby Crestview and malls in Destin, lower sales tax and NO tax on groceries and meds.
.....I agree that this is the final nail in the coffin of Covington County, but it will pass and there's nothing you can really do about it.
Posted by Patrick (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who to tax? Sales taxes impact the lower income citizens more than the wealthy. Property taxes impact wealthy citizens more than lower income citizens. Raising car tag fees impact the lower income citizens more than the wealthy. Raising the tax on the car tags (based on the vehicles value) impacts the wealthy more than the lower income citizens. The sin tax in Alabama is already the highest in the nation.
I favor no tax increase at all. Get by in the short term on what is available or seek donations from local sources. If taxes are increased I would prefer the sin tax and sales tax. I can go out of state or county and use the internet to avoid both.
Posted by rlb1940 (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Patrick, people are doing just that now in the high sales tax areas, Covington County soon to join the ranks.......look what happened to Montgomery, Alabama with their 10% sales tax, the Mall closed and the South Bypass looks like a ghost town...........talked to a retired Superintendant from Eastern Tennesee over the weekend and he said 'consolidation' is the only way to go now with schools systems as far as expense and administration, of course he was driving a new Black Lincoln Navigator and lived on the coast in Florida in a 'upper' income area........
Posted by coolhand (anonymous) on November 9, 2009 at 7:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well look out , cause the tax will happen, altho, they say its for the schools, the commissioner well get what they want out of it.. So brace your self
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