Business & Tech

Common Answer Emerging in Business Survey Results: Lower Taxes

The Economic Development Commission will spend its meeting next week examining business surveys that were filled out by the town's businesses.

An amorphous pile of returned business surveys sits on Paul Hongo’s desk.

“My focus has been on the budget,” said the deputy director of town affairs. “I’ve just been collecting them in a pile.”

To with the town’s businesses, the Economic Development Commission mailed out about 700 15-question surveys to East Haven businesses last month.

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“We’re still getting them back,” said Hongo. “I couldn’t tell you if we even got 10 percent back.”

However, from what has been returned to the commission thus far, Hongo said a common answer is emerging to question No. 9: "What do you feel the town’s Economic Development Commission can do to help your business grow?"

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The steadfast answer: lower taxes.

“Everybody’s looking for some type of tax relief,” said Hongo. But there is no ordinance that allows the EDC to take such action. The commission can, however, make recommendations to the Town Council, said Hongo.

Before Almon came into office, was given a seven-year tax break on all its personal property, said Hongo. That’s their entire fleet, any equipment, et cetera, he said.

“People look at that and say, ‘CarMax is a national business, it’s too sweet a deal,’” he said. Hongo said a national chain does not need startup relief as much as an independent proprietor does.

The commission plans to look at the surveys in depth at its next meeting on Monday, April 25. 


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