Shop Granite City, or if you dont live there, Shop local
June 13th, 2008 at 04:44pm Under Environment+ Local News
Think about all the money that we spend out of town, going to the mall in St. Louis or Fairview Heights. Running across the bridge to buy tobacco products or gasoline because its 5 cents cheaper a gallon. Now think about all the money your throwing into that cities tax system. You’re helping maintain their roads, their schools, and their sewer system. In the process our roads, our schools and our sewer systems are losing.
You might say that Granite City doesn’t offer the goods and services that you go elsewhere to purchase; I would say that you might be right, but I bet you didn’t look very hard either. Open up the yellow pages or visit them online. You will be amazed at what Granite City has to offer!
Ok, the argument to this point has been that you will keep your tax dollars in your own community. Let’s take a look at the other benefits of shopping locally. The first would be JOBS, the more money you spend locally; the more jobs are created locally. Increasing the tax base and meaning better roads, schools, sewers etc…
The second is that it is better for the environment. If I travel 5 miles to pick up that tool, or part, or piece of clothing. I have made a much smaller impact on the environment than if I have traveled 60 miles round trip to pick up that same item. Not to mention the cost of the fuel to go 60 miles. In my car, 60 miles is about $10.00 @ $4.09/gallon.
The third, but to me the most important reason to shop locally is that in doing so, we are ensuring the future success of Granite City. We get to know more people in the community; we become closer as a community. Some of the results of closer communities are less crime, better schools; people take more pride in their homes. When that happens, our property values go up, we get more businesses which increases the tax base and provides more jobs. Continuing to ensure the success of our community.
Lastly, it will decrease our taxes in the long run. We all know that government isn’t going to lower our taxes, but it just might keep them from raising them in the future.
By Dcomer 2 comments