Dear Editor:
The Transformations tax will unfairly support merchants downtown at the expense of stores elsewhere in the city. More citizens shop on the western and eastern sides of the Jefferson City, but all of the beautification money would be spent promoting downtown.
If downtown merchants and churches cannot offer services that attract people, they will not prosper. If downtown shoppers and store owners want to form a special taxing district as planned to increase taxes, that is their business.
Shoppers at other stores should not be required to support stores they do not use. I know of no reason that downtown businesses are in any danger of decreasing sales. Churches will not see any change in attendance as the large majority of attendees do not live downtown, but drive in from other areas of the city.
The $25,000 in Transformations to be used to study ways to improve Capital Mall is ridiculous. General Growth Properties owns 136 malls all over the United States including the Columbia Mall. I do not believe the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce could tell GGP anything about running a mall. Besides, tax money should not be used to support private businesses..
Vote No on Transformations sales tax increase.
Video Extra
TEXT