The tax man giveth, the tax man taketh away

A long-time Stillwater, MN, bookstore has been claimed by taxes that are too high.

"After 17 years of selling books in downtown, the tax man has finally driven business into the ground," owner Thomas Loome said. "Count, therefore, on one more large empty building in downtown Stillwater."

Loome's taxes on his 12,000-square-foot bookstore are now pushing $30,000, up about 45 percent from 2006.

"This is just the last straw," he said. "I'm literally in the position of having to go to the bank to borrow the money to pay my taxes."
...
"The downtown is failing, and businesses are pulling out, and the 'for rent' and 'for sale' signs are posted up and down and all around," he said. "And the end is not in sight. People like me, an independent sole proprietor, doing the best we can, we just can't compete."

It's no surprise that it's a Democrat - one who's been in office all of a few weeks - is running to the rescue.

Sen. Kathy Saltzman, DFL-Woodbury, represents the southern part of downtown and will meet with merchants Jan. 25.

"When you see small businesses struggling with this, we've got a problem," she said. "We have to have a strong downtown."

And what is she going to do about it? You're talking about someone who upset the incumbent on a platform that included a blatant willingness to RAISE TAXES!!!

Good grief.