In favor of sales tax bill
Everyone that lives in the City of Columbus and those the follow the budgeting process know we have a need for additional monies in the city. From the police department to public works and city infrastructure, including drainage is sorely in need. There is a funding source out there that the state and city should be receiving called sales taxes that is not being collected because of Internet purchases. I have heard some legislators say they are not for a Internet sales tax because they don’t want to increase taxes on anyone. What they are forgetting is this sales tax is due to the state when people file their State Income Tax so this is not an incremental tax. It would be interesting if a hearing was held requiring Amazon and eBay to report on total sales to Mississippi and what sales tax was collected and paid. Obviously, one of the things needed to fully implement the collection and distribution to the local municipality share would be zip code + 4 for all online purchases.
Berry Hinds
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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