Home Depot

Does anyone know why Home Depot is charging 7.8% sales tax when sales tax for our area is 7.050%?

That is a good question

They are charing that extra tax because of the "transportation district tax " that was set in place by the city at Home Depots and the developers request. The extra tax money goes back to them to pay off all the development costs , including the cost of their building. So even tho they are "cheaper" than the local stores, they get to charge you extra and you pay more anyway. Slick deal huh?

I was told by Home Depot its for the road tax for the new area out there.

No thanks are necessary my good man.

I could be mistaken but I am pretty sure that I read that it also went to pay off the new buildings like home depot , IHOP and any new construction out there. It gives them an incentive to come set up shop.........

You're absolutely correct. I think.

I think it should have never been put in place. It gives them an unfair advantage in the marketplace over the little local guys.

still like to see this much effort put in to the south end of vine and along 8th street

south vine has been used up and thrown to the side like a two-bit whore

14. SALE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS – HOME DEPOT: It is required
for the Commission to approve a resolution authorizing the offer for sale of
General Obligation Bonds. The taxable General Obligation Economic
Development Bonds, Series 2004-A, of the City of Hays, Kansas, in the
approximate principal amount of $2,455,000 shall be offered at competitive public
sale.
Troy Hickman moved, Wayne Billinger seconded, that Resolution No.
2004-490, being a resolution authorizing the offer for sale of approximately
$2,455,000 of taxable General Obligation Economic Development Bonds, Series
2004-A, of the City of Hays, Kansas, be approved.

This from the 11-9-04 minutes of the Hays city commission.

The extra sales tax in the Home depot area is intended to repay this bond. If the retailers do not raise the necessary amount in the proscribed amount of time, the developer (not Home Depot, but the people that broght them) is responsible in paying off the remainder of the bond. At this time the businesses that are in that area will lower their tax rate to that of the rest of the city.

Thank You!!!

so does this involve all the bussinesses north of 70 or just certain ones

zeke wrote:

so does this involve all the bussinesses north of 70 or just certain ones

I suspect just the ones the city paid to move in.

zeke wrote:

so does this involve all the bussinesses north of 70 or just certain ones

Just the ones in the Home Depot development area.
If you are not sure whether the business you are wanting to shop at is in that district, ask what their sales tax rate is.

Can the people moving into the new 41st street area get someone else to pay those specials off for them also ?

I don't know that the Home Depot Corporation really needs any EXTRA money-why should they be paid to be here??They make enough money I assume.

wilkykav2 wrote:

I don't know that the Home Depot Corporation really needs any EXTRA money-why should they be paid to be here??They make enough money I assume.

I agree totally. If a large corporation wants to come do business, let 'em pay their own damned way. Why put the burden on the wallet of the everyday working stiff who is barely getting by the way it is? Everyone knew when Home Despot opened that it would mean the demise and closing of someone elses lumber business. But does anyone give a damn about the little local guy who has been here for years and years supporting all the school projects asking for donations and church functions raising money or anything like that. Nope ! Will the big corporation be as generous to groups like that? Nope ! "As ye sow, so shall ye reap" I guess in time we'll see how true or untrue that may be.

lucy lou wrote:

Does anyone know why Home Depot is charging 7.8% sales tax when sales tax for our area is 7.050%?

In simple terms, it's a form of corporate welfare. You're subsidizing the developers via a .75% sales tax surcharge.

You're paying them for the privilege of shopping at their store. Nice, huh?

glad i'm a ma and pop shopper and don't worship at the walmart/ home depot alter of life

Brown Bag Special wrote:

lucy lou wrote:

Does anyone know why Home Depot is charging 7.8% sales tax when sales tax for our area is 7.050%?

In simple terms, it's a form of corporate welfare. You're subsidizing the developers via a .75% sales tax surcharge.

You're paying them for the privilege of shopping at their store. Nice, huh?

It is just an unfair advantage over the local guy that has been here for years. plain and simple

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It is just an unfair advantage over the local guy that has been here for years. plain and simple[/quote]

But look at all the money that they bring to town. All the jobs that they have out there, look at the out of town money that is paying for it. I know of a lot of people coming in from gt bend that spend big bucks there.

It is survival of the fittest. The slow non changing animal gets eaten 1st & so on.

Ok I don't like it either but this is what happens when you grow. Everybody sees the traffic and the dollars signs and want their share of the pie. Before you know it we will even have a Sambo's !

I'm all for survival of the fittest, but the tax advantage they got gave them an unfair advantage. That is just a prime example of what politicians will do the the people that vote for them. You're their buddy when it's election time, but the minute they get in office, they stab you in the back and kick you to the side because there's big bucks involved. And when they want more money to spend, they will just raise the mill levy on your property. But yet the big corporations get "incentives" to do business. I would think that the profits that they make anyway would be incentive enough, but no, we have to sweeten the pot to entice them to come here and screw us over. Why heck, we's is frickin' geniuses ain't we?

you say the slow moving animal gets eaten.... in this case, a monster was brought in from the outside at the shoppers expense and allowed to kill a business that has been here for many many years and paid thousands of dollars in taxes and donations to local groups. After all, it's all just about the big bucks isn't? So who is gonna be next on the chopping block to go up against a corporate giant with the blessing of the city fathers?

But hey look on the bright side.... property that was once a thriving commercial location will be available for the government to buy from a speculator at an over-inflated price for more office space..... or perhaps a new fire department. This way they would be closer to the airport and wouldn't waste as much gas driving back and forth.