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REA 1 '.ERYAKINIA
November9, 2016 C p a
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itarwYakima. arg chamber@yalzima.org
City of Yakima
129 N 2 Street
Yakima, WA 98901
Dear Mayor, City Manager, and Yakima City Council
1 am writing to you on behalf of the Board and members of the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce
to express our concern about reports that the City Council may be considering increasing taxes on local
businesses.
While we understand that the City may be experiencing financial difficulties, this is not a challenge
unique to government. Our member business owners must find a way to live within their means, and
believe that government should as well While our local governments certainly require adequate tax
revenue to support essential services to the community, these taxes can also adversely affect the ability
of businesses to create jobs and even to threaten their survival
The Yakima Valley continues to be challenged by low rates of economic growth and high rates of
unemployment. Attracting new businesses to our valley —and to downtown Yakima in particular —
remains an urgent priority We believe that resolving the City's fiscal issues with an increase in taxes on
businesses, whether by imposing a local Business and Occupation Tax or by increasing the utility tax cap
on businesses, will undermine these efforts and prove counter - productive to our region's long -term
recovery
We therefore strongly urge the Yakima City Council not to resolve its own fiscal problems at the expense
of the businesses and employers in the City Instead, we Zook forward to working with you to implement
policies that will contribute to the growth and prosperity of all residents of the Yakima community
Sincerely,
C1111
Verlynn Best
President
CC. Cliff Moore, City Manager
MISSION
The GreaterYakima Chamber of Commerce is an organization that promotes pride in our diverse communities
through positive, active leadership aimed at creating a cohesive, successful business climate in our County