The honest debate over what is and is not economic development is not limited to Watertown. Across the Empire State, there is more and more scrutiny of public agencies that hand out goodies.
In suburban Buffalo a debate over tax breaks for a pizzaria resulted in the freebies being turned down.
Many communities have numerous IDA's cranking out exemptions of dubious value.
The debate that is being held on these matters is a good thing and the Legislature is wise to question the crazy quilt system that has arisen around the state in the past fifty years.
A pizzeria doesn’t need a tax break - David Robinson - The Buffalo News
2 comments:
I don't know if it is an honest debate or dishonest debate or just an ignorant debate. Sometimes it seems like a dishonest debate driven by jealously.
First off...it shouldn't matter if it is "economic development" or not. A new pizza shop is good for the quality of life of the citizens. With the authors ignorant definition of economic development, there would be no Vegas strip and no Disney. Yet both of those are the main economy in their respective locations.
It is fundamentally wrong to declare the amount of money people have to spend as a fixed quantity. on top of that, people spend more every year on eating out.
Regardless, if they rob a little from the chains and keep the profits local then our economy is better off at the expense of wall Street and what is wrong with that?
And it is also wrong to characterize it as spending tax dollars The tax dollars do not exist until something is built and taxed. 99.99% of the burden created is marginal or non existent. It takes just as many firefighters on call regardless of how many pizza shops there are. At least to a point.
But I still contend the bets answer is either to eliminate or have a blanket one size fits all PILOT for everyone.
Lets not forget our IDA's with its "Liberal attitude" when it comes to the employees, Pizza Shops?........We need to change the first part of IDA.
Post a Comment