July 27, 2010
Kopp Calls Reforms Without Specific Study Short Sighted
Current Plant Could “Drive Business out of the City”
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Marshall University President Dr. Stephen Kopp “strongly advocates” an independent city tax study for the City of Huntington prior to enacting the proposed tax reform package.
Speaking through Chief of Staff, Matt Turner, Dr. Kopp “would not only look at the impact of an occupation tax on the present and future development of the downtown business community but also investigate other ways to generate revenue and control costs.
Dr. Kopp believes “ the proposal being considered will likely have a major, negative impact not only on faculty/staff recruitment and retention at Marshall University, but also drive current businesses outside the city limits and discourage new businesses from locating within the city limits.”
He continued, “To move forward without consulting with municipal development and tax experts and closely reviewing how similar tax changes have affected other municipalities for the sake of propping up the city's current budget is extremely short-sighted and, arguably, irresponsible.”
Having stressed the necessity for an independent study, Turner explained that Dr. Kopp has found a number of cities, including Cleveland and St. Louis, have imposed similar taxes only to discover the highly negative impact on business development and investment.
The Marshall University president shared these concerns at Marshall’s Faculty Senate and Classified Staff meetings, Turner said.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
Kopp Calls Reforms Without Specific Study Short Sighted
Current Plant Could “Drive Business out of the City”
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Marshall University President Dr. Stephen Kopp “strongly advocates” an independent city tax study for the City of Huntington prior to enacting the proposed tax reform package.
Speaking through Chief of Staff, Matt Turner, Dr. Kopp “would not only look at the impact of an occupation tax on the present and future development of the downtown business community but also investigate other ways to generate revenue and control costs.
Dr. Kopp believes “ the proposal being considered will likely have a major, negative impact not only on faculty/staff recruitment and retention at Marshall University, but also drive current businesses outside the city limits and discourage new businesses from locating within the city limits.”
He continued, “To move forward without consulting with municipal development and tax experts and closely reviewing how similar tax changes have affected other municipalities for the sake of propping up the city's current budget is extremely short-sighted and, arguably, irresponsible.”
Having stressed the necessity for an independent study, Turner explained that Dr. Kopp has found a number of cities, including Cleveland and St. Louis, have imposed similar taxes only to discover the highly negative impact on business development and investment.
The Marshall University president shared these concerns at Marshall’s Faculty Senate and Classified Staff meetings, Turner said.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
