What Others are Saying About the Sales Tax on Services
It's virtually unanimous: business owners, taxpayers, newspaper columnists all agree that it's time to Ax the Tax. Will Lansing listen?
"Most of our customers are quite shocked when they hear that we're going to have to charge them more."
Ray Kade, manager of Carpet World Wide in Saginaw Township.
"The Legislature and governor pulled a pin on a grenade and handed it to small businesses and said, 'Hold onto this for a second, Now we're left to deal with it."
David Rhoa, owner of Lake Michigan Mailers and employer of 56 workers.
"The state seems overwhelmed trying to figure it out. The state already is costing me money before I even know whether I'm going to have to pay the tax or not."
Jase Bolger, president of Summit Credit Services in Kalamazoo.
"When I clean millions of square feet of building spaces a night, that's an essential service — not a luxury."
Bob Corwin, president of Lansing-based Clean Team USA.
"The impact of the services tax is real. It's real and it will have a detrimental impact on the Michigan economy."
Jeanne Englehart President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
"We may consider closing or leaving the state."
Gail Andrus, owner Gail Andrus Travel
"This is one whacked-out strategy for bailing out the state of Michigan's budget woes."
Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press
"It's a massive administrative nightmare, without question."
Greg Nowak, PriceWaterhouseCoopers
"Michigan cannot tax itself into prosperity."
State Rep. Dan Acciavatti
"Just fix it."
Tom Walsh, Detroit Free Press
"It's going to kill us. There will be jobs lost and revenue lost. I'm sure we're going to lose business.''
Al Cavasin, owner of Great Northern Sentry Co.
"This is being portrayed as a tax on luxuries, but most of it will be paid by Michigan's job providers on services they need."
Todd Anderson, Small Business Association of Michigan
"We would very much like it to go away."
Richard Blouse, Detroit Regional Chamber
The sales tax on certain services that was adopted as part of the state budget deal early Monday morning is one of the most unfair and foolishly crafted pieces of legislation ever to come out of Lansing.
Detroit News Editorial
"The inanely crafted expanded sales tax on 23 selected services is, in particular, a cruel joke on Michigan workers."
John Palffy, adjunct professor in the Wayne State University Graduate School of Business.
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