Tax Subsidies for Strip Clubs, Only in Salisbury
Believe it or not, that is the message we received from Councilwoman Louise Smith, Councilman Gary Comegys and Councilwoman Shanie Shields Monday night. To justify their decision to dole out another subsidy (this time $350,000+ to Walgreens) Barrie Tilghman’s “Council Leadership” stated that if any business opens in an enterprise zone area and meets the minimum standard of investing $50,000 and creating two jobs then they have to be given tax abatements. These tax abatements include an 80% reduction in property taxes for five years, additional abatements in years 6 - 10, and income tax credits.
What does this mean for Salisbury? If someone chose to open a strip club in the Northwoods Industrial Park they would be subsidized by the Salisbury taxpayer, if they chose to apply for the designation (and why wouldn’t they?).
Picture it. Nubile young ladies removing their clothing to the pulsating sounds of electronica, all courtesy of the Salisbury taxpayer. I haven’t researched it, but for all we know the dirty book store at the corner of Church and Salisbury Blvd. is being subsidized by the taxpayer as we speak. I’m sure it’s in the enterprise zone. I guess the store employs two or more people. It’s a little tough to open a storefront business nowadays for less than the required $50,000. Maybe the deadline to apply hasn’t passed and they can still get in on the Tilghman / Smith / Comegys / Shields gravy train.
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Comments
Hmmmmmmm, 300 West Main Street on the Downtown Plaza, a Bar/Strip Club, eh? Doesn’t that also gain 100% credit on ANY property tax for 6 years as well? After all, stripping is an art and I am looking to fill that space.
I’ll assure you of one thing, we won’t have to wait 50 years for the administration to revitalize the Downtown Plaza.
What about that “adult” store on the east side of Route 13 that Barrie and Bubba said they were going to close down a couple years ago — that’s still going strong. But even that is not as obscene as huge “enterprise zone” tax subsidy deals for Marriott and Walgreens.
No wonder that we just had a double-digit City tax increase along with higher sewer and water charges too.