alienroswell

From a small fishing town in the north of Puerto Rico, Barceloneta has developed into a multi-financial-industrial behemont. Everything from agriculture, turism, banking, sales, industrial, services has grown in the last 4-5 years. The new Prime Outlets mall built in the vincinity of Palenque, is an example of the growth of this town. This outlet is visited by more than 4 million people each year. Since all of these new improvements the economy of the town has grown to a $3,454,534,455.77 net product in the last 2 years.

Nothing against the town, but this issue about the municipal sales tax is bullcrap. It is true that some ornamental work has been done in the area, but I think the Mayor could have obtained enough funds with the existing municipal tax code without burdening the consumer additionally. There are many businesses in the area that are opening and some chain super stores that could bring the funds necesary to cover these beautification projects. I guess what really upset me about this situation is that the first act, after imposing the municipal sales tax, of the mayor was to raise his own salary. This left a bad taste in my mouth. Because what interpret from this action is that the mayor only wanted more money to play with and there was no real need for this taxation. I been there to buy, because of my work I travel through town a few times a month, but will not buy again in protest against this imposed tax. The mayor’s name is Willie Miranda, thus the nickname “Willie-Tax”. I hope that this municipal tax is removed once the new Puerto Rico Tax Code is approved. That PR Tax Code provides for a sales-tax wich has a percentage destined to be divided between all municipalities. I would thing this eliminates the necessity of individual local municipal sales taxes, and would make such anticonstitucional since it would be double taxing.