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From:Chris Robell <br />To:publiccomment <br />Subject:Public Comment for item 7a (BLT) <br />Date:Monday, July 22, 2024 2:50:22 PM <br />[You don't often get email from chris_robell@yahoo.com. Learn why this is important at <br />https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] <br />Dear City Council members, <br />Given the projected operating deficits, I would urge City Council to form an ad hoc committee to help identify <br />creative cost reduction initiatives to close the funding gap in a way that won’t impact important services. I think we <br />all can agree there is opportunity for more belt tightening without any pain. <br />That said, if new taxes are needed, I support the revamped business license tax. I am glad to see you have a stated <br />goal of ensuring large businesses pay their fair share. <br />However, the fact you have a $500,000 cap on the tax by definition means the proposed structure is still regressive <br />and not consistent with the equity goal. Why should a company with 7,000 employees pay the same $500 in <br />business tax as a company with 70,000 employees? <br />There is a nexus between number of people a company employee and the amount of city services it uses (e.g., roads, <br />police, fire). The bigger companies should not get a free ride. <br />By having a cap, the effective tax rate is LOWER than it is for the smaller company which makes no sense. I’m <br />sure organizations representing big business will threaten and suggest that big companies will leave Redwood City if <br />there isn’t a cap. <br />Call their bluff. They won’t. <br />Mountain View has a business license tax with no cap. Have large businesses left Mountain View? Last I checked, <br />Google and Costco are still there. <br />Please accept the staff recommendation but remove the $500k cap. <br />Thank you, <br />Chris Robell