Downtown businesses need to end unfair tax

This letter is to my fellow small business owners in Sandpoint. The Daily Bee article, "Downtown hit by closures" (Sept. 23), should be a wake-up call for careful running of our enterprises, with a lesson in there for us. The lesson? Quote: Downtown staple, Bearware Graphics … unexpectedly closed last week. Owner Kathleen Hyde, who also acts as manager of the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association … said she would continue her employment with the DSBA." And you can bet she will, for a guaranteed salary no matter how bad things may get for the rest of us. The BID tax we are billed quarterly for, pays her salary and the money she and the DSBA board spends of whatever. Wouldn’t you like to have the city pay you a nice salary this winter?

But this lesson can help us by spurring us to act right away and this tax could be eliminated entirely and quickly. In case you don’t know, there is a petition that has been signed by more than 50 percent of the businesses to have the tax repealed and the city agrees this petition will do just that and eliminate it not only through this winter, but forever. And, hard times or not, you will be able to take this saved money and treat your family to some fine meals in our downtown or on some other goodies you may want.

And the quicker you act, the more you will save. Come down to my shop (Cycle Haus, corner of Fifth and Oak) and sign on or call 263-6321 and I will run to you as fast as my feet can carry me. Now is the time to act before winter is in.

FRANK THIEME

Sandpoint