LANSING, Mich., April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Michigan Chamber today announced its opposition to a proposed 16 percent increase in the tax the city of Detroit imposes on Detroit casinos.
“Detroit’s three casino operators have made a substantial financial commitment to the city, investing millions of dollars in first-class facilities and creating thousands of good jobs for hard-working city residents,” said Rich Studley, President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “Now is not the time to impose a multi-million dollar tax penalty on these critically important job providers.”
“The city of Detroit has one of the heaviest tax burdens in Michigan,” noted Studley. “It also has one of the highest unemployment rates in Michigan and has suffered a dramatic loss in population over the past decade. These three facts are not unrelated.”
“Detroit is still Michigan’s largest city and we hope it will return to greatness. Instead of raising city taxes, Mayor Bing and the City Council need to take action to substantially reduce spending, overhaul unsustainable employee benefit and pension plans, and streamline burdensome regulations. In the meantime, we strongly urge the Michigan Legislature to reject the proposed job-killing tax increase on Detroit casinos,” Studley concluded.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,800 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. The Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan’s job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. It is one of only four state chambers of commerce in the nation accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce
CONTACT: Rich Studley, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, +1-517-371-2100
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