That's all good. Really.
So why is Georgia Aquarium asking the state legislature for a tax subsidy government subsidy?
Because it can.
The Georgia Aquarium is right now asking the state legislature for a government handout. It wants to buy building materials without having to pay the same sales tax that you and I and every other business pay.
It's a good thing that small-government, welfare-hating, free-marketeering conservative Republicans are running things at the Capitol. I'm sure they'll tell the billionaire aquarium to quit begging and start paying their fair share.
Doh!
Georgia Aquarium may get tax break
Bill cuts building costs if aquarium expands
By
Published on: 01/26/07
The world's largest aquarium plans to get even bigger, and two lawmakers are behind a bill that could help it save millions in building costs.
The bill, filed Wednesday, would waive sales taxes on construction materials for the aquarium over the next four years.
Its sponsors are House Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter (R-Alpharetta) and Rep. Bob Smith (R-Watkinsville). Burkhalter filed the bill Wednesday.
The current sales tax is 7 percent. If the aquarium bought $100 million in steel, mortar and other materials, it would save $7 million.
Jeff Swanagan, the aquarium's president and executive director, asked for the tax break earlier this month, Burkhalter said . . .
. . ."The return on investment alone and the economic impact is exponential to our state," Burkhalter said. "I think everyone would agree the aquarium has really made Atlanta a destination city."
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In Georgia, when people who need money ask for it, it's called welfare. When people who don't need money ask for it, it's called investment.
4 comments:
When politicians are given the ability to manipulate the tax code, regardless of their party affiliation, they will do it.
Personally, I don't believe the aquarium should be paying taxes but that's a different argument all together.
I thought the GA AquaThingee was a non-profit.
It's a 501c, but I'd rather see the money spent on a gazillion other things. I just think it deserve a $7 million tax rebate.
And for building materials, of all things? Can't Bernie give them an employee discount?
Bernie hired Nardelli so he could go play Gordon's Fisherman. Any discounts were immediately discontinued at that point. Careful what you ask for.
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