Californians Against Higher Taxes
November 4, 2009
INGLEWOOD — Saying the current Legislative special session threatens to open a Pandora’s Box of new taxes, business leaders here came together today to warn of the negative impact higher taxes would have on small and minority-owned businesses struggling to stay alive in this economy.
Dr. George Ifeorah, co-owner of the Oasis Prime Rib & Seafood Restaurant that hosted the news conference, said new taxes can be the final straw for a business. “California is an expensive, difficult place to do business in even under the best of circumstances,” said Dr. Ifeorah, who is also the Director/CEO of the Centinela Medical Group. “On top of the credit crisis and rising unemployment, our elected representatives raised our taxes by $12.5 billion earlier this year. In my view it’s no coincidence that business closures and job losses have increased substantially since that tax hike.”
The special session in Sacramento is considering a slew of tax increase proposals. Speakers today slammed proposed increases in the gas tax, a new tax on oil production and a new tax that would place a levy on services such as dry cleaners, tax preparers and even funeral services for the first time.
”I’m going to have to pass that tax along to my clients at a time when they can’t afford fee increases,” said Velma Union, managing partner of ACV Financial Services. “This has the potential to really hurt my business – either through losing clients that can’t pay more, or keeping them by absorbing thousands of dollars in new taxes I can’t pass along. Since many small companies are service businesses, this will put a lot of us at risk.”
“No matter what the politicians say, a tax on fuel either when it comes out of the ground or when a consumer fills up his tank, means higher gas prices,” said Jovonnie Mabrie, who is a real estate appraiser. “For a small business person like me, every dollar I have to pay in higher gas prices means a dollar less to pay my bills.”
“We’re talking about jobs here, too,” said James Clark of Innovative Contractors. “When your costs go up, you make cuts, and because payroll is one of the biggest expenses, you have to look at laying some people off. There are enough people out of work in California already.”
The speakers urged local citizens to contact their state lawmakers and demand that there be no new taxes.
More information is available at www.MoreJobsNotTaxes.com.
Californians Against Higher Taxes is a statewide coalition of small businesses, taxpayer organizations and large employers promoting economic growth and more jobs – not more taxes – as the solution to the state’s budget crisis. Members of Californians Against Higher Taxes include the Carson Black Chamber of Commerce, California Taxpayers’ Association, California Small Business Alliance, California Restaurant Ass’n, South Gate Chamber of Commerce, Neighborhood Market Ass’n, Commerce Industrial Council Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Action Committee.
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