March 29, 2024

Save Creston from the job killer

From Tiffany Jackson

Creston

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part letter written by Tiffany Jackson.

I have read the proposed franchise fee articles, and I feel I’m not the only one in this community that is opposed to the new tax (“fee”). The franchise fee, even with this proposed new step ladder affect, still results in a 5 percent tax increase. This fee will hurt companies and individuals and ultimately the community.

The companies will have to charge more for their products or they might reduce expenses by laying off employees. These companies could get tired of paying high fees and leave Creston. The majority of people in this town and people that work here from surrounding towns with no employment could move. Businesses thinking of locating in Creston would consider the additional tax and might choose a different location. The community college may raise tuition making other colleges more desirable, lower enrollment would reduce jobs related to the college. Creston schools and the hospital will need to increase our taxes because their costs will increase.

If you asked the people of Creston and surrounding community’s their opinion, I think the majority would say they don’t want it and feel their voice is just not being heard or considered. Just because a fee is available does not mean we need to change things when we consider all the consequences that may negatively affect our community development over the next 25 years. When the community voices concerns I feel our representatives need to listen. It seems many decisions are made without considering future consequences. A quick fix to stabilize a budget may drive the businesses away in this case and probably out of the state, since there are 73 cities that already have this fee. Bigger towns may be able to tolerate the loss of a few businesses, or jobs but a small community like ours is dependent on every business in the area.

What will the city council do when the factories are gone and small businesses cannot start up or continue to operate? With less money for the budget, they will have to find new fees for us to pay to live in this dying community, and will more people then leave the area? What little jobs we do have may be gone in 10 years.