Page 5 - ShopLocal.2016

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Food, Fun and More: Local business success means more employment for the community. Local: Towns need local businesses
skirting their tax obliga- tions, as well as that locally owned enterprises generate more tax revenue for cities, with less cost, than sprawl- ing big-box shopping cen- ters.” According to the ILSR website, big-box retailers may have negative effects on the number and vitality of nearby local businesses, in that they both lead to a loss of existing businesses, and contrary to the claims big-box retailers themselves often make, do not serve as a catalyst for new growth. Studies also find that chains are not always a bargain.
“It really truly hurts rev-
enue for community use for police, fire, everything you run with it,” said Paul Harvel, former El Dorado- Union County Chamber of Commerce president and consultant to thechamber.
“Sales tax is very, very important,” Harvel said. “When you go to Dallas to shop, that means city of Dallas gets your tax dollar, not El Dorado. When you do a lot of that it hurts total revenue.”
Shopping local helps not only the business you do business with, but other businesses in the communi- ty as well, Dumas noted.
“It supports other small businesses. It supports our community. I do not give my money to strangers. I had rather give my money for products and services to familiar faces — to our small business owner in El Dorado who is the back- bone of this city and coun- ty,” Dumas said.
“If you shop local, then local businesses do better,” Harvel said. “They are able to hire more people, pay their electric bill. It’s not just the tax money but also the dollars spent local stay local — all towns need local businesses to do well.”
Reasons: Support local merchants
Continued from Page 2
Dorado, I hope you will take the time to go through this “Shop at Home for Christmas” section.
You’re likely to find the spark of a good idea on what to find for some of those on your shopping list. And you can take pride in the
fact that you are supporting local merchants as well as your friends and neighbors. Believe it or not, you’ll be helping yourself, too, from the benefits of the sales tax revenues that come back to the city.
Don’t forget, if you can’t find just the right item for someone on your list, most
local businesses offer gift certificates.
Have a very Merry Christmas and remember to shop local.
Ronnie Bell is the general manager of the El Dorado News-Times and can be reached by e-mail at rbell@ eldoradonews.com.
El Dorado NEWS-TIMES – Friday, December 16, 2016 – 5
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