11/15/2024
Shop is open today (Friday) 10-6 and we are more than happy to chat about Monday's Essex vote should you want to hear a small biz/long-time reaident perspective.
🌊🌊Or should you need a killer new board for the swell!! 🌊🌊
Sorry to all those who just want wave photos, just skip this post. 😉 ...But we have to use our voice.
For those of you who are Essex residents, one of the most common reason why we hear that people are FOR the proposed zoning is because, "Essex doesn't have a commercial tax rate so business can just come in and not pay." Unfortunately, that is grossly misleading.
1.) Yes, Essex has a flat property tax rate (2024 is 13.32). This means everyone pays the same tax rate. That is the case in Rockport and many other small towns as well. In fact, about 3(ish?) Years ago, the town hired a consultant who said in no uncertain terms that Essex should not have a higher tax rate for businesses because the bulk of the businesses were small businesses and run by residents... also, there are only 2% businesses. TWO PERCENT.
2.) No, other businesses are not going to "come into town for the tax rate". Rockport's flat tax rate for 2024 is 8.42, Gloucester has a separate tax rates but their commercial tax rate is 10.05 and [I believe?] Ipswich is at a flat rate of 11.38.
Now, why would business flock to Essex to pay more? When asked, the Board cannot come up with a single example of a new business that has come into town and converted a residential property to commercial. Not one.
Not to mention, towns with separate commercial rates give their business something in return to help them thrive.
Essex has repeatedly eliminated funding year over year for it's merchants group, put in a new business conversion moratorium (for years!), and put in a 'amplified music at businesses policy' that is so restrictive that doesn't even do their Jazz Brunch on the deck anymore on Sundays.
This policy gives that same governing authority the ability to pick and choose (with 0.0 unbiased criteria) what business can go where. VS. Having rules in place, like we have now and just following them
Come talk to us.
We're living it and have actually been through the process.
