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Attention Westfield business property owners and voters: 2017 is an election year and you should be aware of how a city councilor is posturing to make it even harder to do business, not only in the city but also in the state. In Monday’s Westfield News Councilor Cindy Harris is proposing a state review of the homeowner property tax break that is allowed to veterans. Now, please understand this submission has nothing to do with veterans. I applaud, honor and respect their service to our country and believe they should be allowed greater benefits than the average non-service citizen. However, this is another way for her to get votes: play on our love for veterans. If you read her position on taxes she is basically out to screw businesses. I refer to her submitted article to the paper in November where she is quoted as saying, “Last year a “Business Friendly” Tax Shift Factor resulted in the average homeowner seeing a real estate tax increase of 4.9% while Home Depot’s property on East Main St. increased 1.6%. For the second year in a row, my proposed “Tax Shift Factor” was amended and thereby defeated in favor of a “Business Friendly” Tax Shift Factor.” What she fails to point out are the numbers. Based on information from the City Assessors page on the city web site, here are the tax rates for the past few years: 2017 RES $19.42 CIP $37.08; 2016 RES $19.44 CIP $36.68; 2015 RES $18.54 CIP $34.69; 2014 RES $18.18 CIP $33.84. Since 2014 the tax rate for homeowners has gone up 6.8% while the business rate has increased 9.6%. The homeowner rate went DOWN in 2017 by $0.02 per $1,000 yet the business rate went up, yet again, $0.40. Since 2001 the homeowner tax rate has increased 19.2% from $16.29 to $19.42 per $1,000 and the business property rate has gone up 33% from $27.88 to $37.08. In her analysis from above Councilor Harris mentioned the local homeowner vs Home Depot. The average home value in Westfield is about $225,000 and the Home Depot East Main St. property is assessed at $7,207,000. So, in her analysis the average homeowner’s taxes went up $214.11 per year while Home Depot’s taxes went up $4,275.77. A national business like Home Depot could probably absorb an additional hit of $4300 but a locally owned business, where most of the money we spend with them stays local, can’t afford an increase in property taxes. I urge you to think about why local businesses struggle in Westfield when you hear the local politician posture for your vote.
So, last week I was listening to the Westfield News radio show, and their guest Mike Knapik, when one thing he said really struck me…state revenue. He noted that the governor is preparing to submit his fiscal 2018 budget but the anticipated revenues from sales tax are not what historical numbers have been due to the increase of online shopping creating a projected shortfall in state revenue. This one item has such a huge impact on all of us: without that sales tax revenue the state can’t do things like road repair, school funding, veteran services, park maintenance, etc, etc. the list goes on and on. Not only does online shopping reduce the amount of state revenue it also creates unemployment and closed retail shops and barren downtowns (just look at Westfield). My take away from that one comment is that each and every one of us is to blame for the crumbling roads and schools as well as the lack of good small, local retail options. Online is convenient but we’re killing ourselves. Before we criticize we must look in the mirror. Think about that for a moment. It is eye opening. I will certainly be changing my habits to support local business more which helps the greater good of all of us.
Hey Westfield. Did you know we have a wonderful children’s museum? Did you also know it’s struggling? The Amelia Park Children’s Museum major fundraiser of the year is the upcoming Penguin Plunge and they could really use your financial support to continue. Even $5 will help.
