Caledonia County Republicans have registered their strong opposition to any broadening of the Vermont sales and use tax to include services. The Caledonia County Republican Committee took the action unanimously at its monthly meeting on April 20. The action was prompted by the April 15 advocacy of the sales tax extension by Democratic/Progressive Senator Tim Ashe, Chair of the Vermont Senate Finance Committee.
Such a tax extension could require Vermonters to pay a sales tax on services offered by doctors, dentists, barbers, cosmetologists, electricians, plumbers, painters, architects, lawyers, auto mechanics, small engine repair shops, butchers, seamstresses, home health aides, farm services, snow plowing and landscape firms, pet care businesses and veterinarians, and many more.
The county Republican committee is deeply concerned that extending the sales and use tax to a long list of services that Vermonters need would raise prices to consumers, damage service enterprises - many of which are small family businesses - and send a negative message to firms considering opening, relocating, or expanding operations in Vermont. The committee believes that state government must learn to live within its means, and abandon its present search for ever more taxes to levy upon the already heavily burdened people of this state.
All of the Republican legislators representing districts in the county enthusiastically agreed with the Committee’s action. They are Senator Joe Benning and Representatives Marty Feltus, Dick Lawrence, Marcia Martel, Scott Beck, Janssen Willhoit, Vicki Strong, Connie Quimby, and Paul Lefebvre.
The resolution that was passed at its monthly meeting on April 20, 2015:
RESOLVED:
Caledonia County Republicans are firmly opposed to the proposal of Democratic/Progressive Senator Tim Ashe, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, to extend the sales tax to services that could include: doctors, dentists, barbers, cosmetologists, electricians, plumbers, painters, architects, lawyers, auto mechanics, small engine repair companies, butchers, seamstresses, home health aides, farm services, snow plowing and landscape firms, pet care businesses and veterinarians, and many more.
Our state government must learn to live within its means, and abandon its present search for ever more taxes to burden the already heavily burdened people of this state.
Wherefore: we, the Caledonia County Republican Committee hereby resolve:
1. That we direct our county chair to forward this resolution to the State Republican Committee, and request that they encourage the counties and towns to adopt the same.
2. That this resolution be issued as a public document to be disseminated to the press and media.
Passed by unanimous vote of Caledonia County Republican Committee delegates on April 20, 2015.