The city council meeting of November 7th, 2011 was the very definition of efficient government. I understand that under normal circumstances, meeting tend to take several hours. However, this was not the case because several items on the council’s agenda were passed unanimously and very little needed to be discussed. One of the few items on the agenda that needed to be discussed was the issue of Merrick and Company which seeking to set up its new world headquarters in Greenwood Village. In return, Merrick and Company wanted 50% off the occupational privilege tax for 300 of their employees for six months. In reality, the occupational privilege tax is only $4 per month for every employee a company has in the city. This is the equivalent of $7200 over six months but Merrick and Company wants to save $3600 over six months. During the meeting, council member Presley brought the issue under conversation. Among the council members, there was a general consensus that this request was most irregular. When voting, all members with the exception of Council member Todd approved of Merrick and Company’s proposition.
In my opinion, a company with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue shouldn’t be asking for something as minuscule as $3600 from the council. In fact, I see it as just wasting the council’s time. For Merrick and Company’s supposed $125 million dollar revenue, their request seems most ludicrous. In the long run, approving their proposition is just a bump in the road to what is sure to be a prosperous relationship between the city of Greenwood Village and Merrick and Company. I just hope that Merrick and company isn’t setting a precedent for companies to think that they avoid taxes all together. I realize that this is, perhaps, an irrational fear but a government relaxing laws on taxing slightly implies that they don’t need them. The city, of course, needs taxes like the occupational privilege tax to maintain the wonderful infrastructure that everybody enjoys. If I had to vote on the council, I would approve Merrick and Company’s most irregular request not because I support relaxing tax regulation but because it’s a practical incentive for one more business operating in the City.
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