Pro-Business Posture is Key for Rockford

March 29th, 2008 at 01:15pm Brian Maier

At our meeting of the community viewpoints board, many of the discussions revolved around demands for increased government services and a larger role for government in solving our problems and addressing our concerns.  For example, I pointed to my desire for more sidewalks and pedestrian/bike pathways throughout our community.  This costs money.  We must always remember that the very foundation for a stable community is a capitalist, free-market environment that attracts job-creating businesses.  After all, it is the entrepreneurs, the risk-takers in search of profits (yes, profits), who create the wealth upon which taxes are levied.  If we raise taxes too high, we risk driving away the businesses that have created, or may create, the jobs people need to meet their wants and needs.  In this regard, I would be interested to know the following in connection with our higher sales tax rate in Rockford:  (1) Has the higher sales tax brought in the amount of revenue expected by the city?  (2) If not, does the lower-than-expected revenue stream reflect a significant decrease in business for our Rockford companies/employers that can be attributed to the higher sales tax?

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