Posted on 10/11/2016 7:18:10 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Tourism is an asset that Nevadans can cash in on to get a team. Nothing wrong with that.
Why can’t they pay for it themselves?
I disagree.
There is something basically wrong with voting on a tax to be paid by others to benefit yourself.
Extend that to where we as a nation are headed. When the 47% become 51% and they vote to increase government hand outs. Is that OK?
Yes I know that is an extreme extension, but it is the same concept.
In either case though, the leagues can afford to build their own stadium. So why do taxpayers need to be involved. Just as a lure to catch a team ? Then the government dishes out tax breaks to teams to get them to move to Vegas. It doesn’t dish out tax breaks for mom and pop stores to move to Vegas but sure, it will help out a business that already grosses out in the billions of dollars.
I spent a weekend in Oakland one afternoon,
“Take a knee” on the NFL.
At least this is a voluntary tax. Those not wanting to contribute can just not go to Vegas.
I was just in Vegas for the International mining show, 12000 attendees were reported. I did not want to go, but I stayed at a hotel. Conventions are a big part of the Vegas hotel business.
Who knows if they want to do it? And even if they do, it's still a misuse of public money.
Wanting something doesn't make it right.
Conventions can re-locate. My point is it’s preferable from a local’s standpoint to tax tourists. Public funding of sports isn’t going away.
On that of course you are right, anytime you can get others to pay the way, it will be popular.
Phoenix, Az. did the something similar to pay for Bank One Ballpark (BOB). They used a rental car tax, which was pretty substantial. I found out about that scheme when I rented a car in Phoenix and asked about the Prop C tax (I may be wrong on the letter designator).
At that time I was planning a national sales meeting and I would need 30 hotel rooms and about ten rental cars. Plus meeting rooms, dinner etc, for a three day meeting.
Phoenix was the leading candidate. I dropped it in favor of another location and wrote a letter to the mayor regarding the reasons for the decision.
You’re close to the real problem- There’s no such thing as a “home team” anymore. My (then) Rams always had Rosie, Deacon, and Merlin. Now, I don’t even know where the Rams are, let alone, who plays for them.
Smart businesses don’t pay for things they don’t have to. Local governments are constantly willing to give concessions to businesses to relocate there. Sports teams are higher profile but Toyota never builds a plant they’ll fully pay for. Once businesses figured out local politicians were will to prostitute themselves for the promise of jobs the barn door was opened, and the cows are out.
Indeed. It would be almost as stupid as paying taxes while you have available deductions.
I would hve voted no.
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