Jack wrote the following on huge fees on new businesses in Portsmouth:

Yesterday, I read with outrage about the revised city ordinance increasing the parking impact fee for restaurants in Portsmouth’s Downtown Central District. A few months ago, this ordinance required new restaurants opening in the District to pay a one-time parking impact fee of $1,300 per 100 square feet of their facility. That fee, by itself, is too high.  Now, however, the City Council has increased the fee to $5,000 per 100 square feet– making it next to impossible for any new restaurant to open.

This is yet another example of a law created by people who have no idea what it takes to run a business and create jobs.   We are in the middle of a major recession and drastic unemployment. The City of Portsmouth, like many businesses, is feeling the pinch. So what does the City Council do to get more money? They drastically increase a fee directly targeted at one of the industries that creates the most jobs, and is the most negatively affected by a recession. This is not only discriminatory, it is fiscally insane. Small businesses drive any economy, and restaurants are certainly key to downtown Portsmouth’s economy. But thanks to the City Council, restauranteurs looking to bring jobs and revenue to Portsmouth will now be moving elsewhere.

Clearly, the members of the Portsmouth City Council have very little respect for the small businessmen who are the backbone of our economy.  The City Council has no problem increasing spending and taxes, even in a recession.  It is time for all of us to take notice of who is voting for tax or fee increases. Whether Democrat or Republican, I recommend that we start acting like Americans first and put aside party politics when we vote. It is time to vote for candidates–regardless of their party–who are fiscally responsible and will reduce the size of government. We need to elect people who understand that we are taxed enough already.

We need to elect legislators who will solve budget problems by decreasing spending, not by raising taxes. How about some tax cuts?  Tax cuts work to increase revenue every time they are tried.  Don’t complain to your friends or neighbors about your high business or property taxes if, in fact, you are voting for people who are always increasing them.  Let’s end this assault on our wallets and pocketbooks before we have nothing left to spend.  It’s up to each and every one of us to change the way we think about how much government we want in our lives.

As for me, I want as little as possible,

Jack