Tourism Benefit?

[Winni]

Now, I know I am going to have a lot of people yelling at me, but I must ask this. Just who does all this tourism "influx" benefit? I have been hearing throughout the weekend how the NWZ 600 ft. emergency ruling is going to be such a tourism loss to the state due to a drop off in tourism, but let's think about this a little....calmly and unemotionally if possible.

First, we have no sales taxes or income taxes. All we have here are property taxes. So, if you just consider taxes, individuals rather than businesses probably contribute a lot more in tax money to the state. Come on...think about the taxes on those waterfront mansions out there! Think about the taxes just we little guys pay as waterfront owners, probably more than most of the small businesses around the area.

Next, yes, I do get the whole reinvestment and "we provide jobs" thing, but lets break that down too. How is a big punch of income on the holidays due to boat traffic going to help? They aren't going to pay any more taxes if they make a huge profit vs. enough to cover expenses and a little profit. So, it's just going to make more money for the individual business owner, not for the state.

It's not going to give the year 'round employee that much more cash. It's not going to make the business owner hire more permanent, full-time employees. The regular employees aren't going to be out buying a new house if we have a "great" tourist weekend vs. just a "decent" tourist weekend. And, the saddest part is to look around and see how many "chains" are taking your and all these visitors' money out of NH!

Wal-mart having a great Memorial Weekend isn't going to put more money in the state coffers; it all goes back to headquarters out of state. You don't really think that greeter-person at the door gets more because there are a lot of tourists this weekend vs. a few less tourists, do you? Come on, folks, where's the payback to NH and to the non-business owning, property-tax-paying public? The Irvings, Exxons, Wal-marts, and I'm sorry to say it, but even the Hannafords, are all sending their profits somewhere else, back to out-of-state headquarters, and it is not going into your pocket!

Another example: How is a huge influx of outside vendors on Motorcycle Week (month...wait, maybe it really is becoming "year"! ), going to help those who live here? Hundreds of vendors come in for a week and pay a minimal fee. They and their transient customers cost multiple times that in public services, tear up our habitat (don't EVEN get me started on that one), disturb our lives to an insane dimension, take their money with them and go home. Once again, the money earned does not increase the property tax income to the state or even stay in the state! Where's the benefit to the residents?

And, so it is with this "no wake; no tourists" argument. Baloney! More boats & faster boats not only hurt the lake and its animal residents, but it hurts the humans who live and play on it and in it. It costs more in public safety and in public services than can possibly be justified. It puts money only in the pockets of the business owners...don't even try to give me the trickle down theory line; clearly national policy has proved that's a fib! And, worst of all, most of the income flys back out of our state. Remember, folks, no income tax and no sales tax. Yeah! You go ask Mr. CEO of Exxon how much he's sending back to Governor Lynch to help with our flood victims!

Stop the myth of more tourists means more money for NH! Ok, so somebody tell me where my reasoning is off here! Thanks for listening.