Roswell voters: Raising taxes won’t spur economic development

Voters in Roswell are heading to the polls now (Election Day is officially March 6) to vote on a gross receipts tax increase. The purpose of the tax will be for “economic development” as outlined in Roswell Ordinance 11- 05. Aside from that, details are somewhat unclear and analysis of exactly how raising taxes will spur economic development are lacking. It would seem that this lack of information would make the average voter skeptical about such a tax increase.

But, if that is not enough, we at the Rio Grande Foundation can add this: raising taxes on the population and business community at large in order to provide incentives and hire bureaucrats to lure businesses to town is a bad idea. It will not result in a more prosperous Roswell, but will benefit a few, favored businesses at the expense of everyone else.