Retail @ngles

LEGISLATIVE SCOREBOARD

Speaker of the House Requests Economic Testimony from VRF

Virginia Retail Federation (VRF) representatives were recently asked to testify at the Speaker's Economic Advisory Council on the economy's impact on Virginia's retail industry, especially small business. The council, composed of state delegates and business leaders, were made aware that Virginia's small businesses with 500 employees or less total 149,265. However, the majority of those businesses, 129,731, have fewer than 20 employees.
VRF representatives offered the following solutions for legislators seeking to help retailers survive the economic crisis:

Offer short-term, low-interest bridge loans from the state to credit-worthy businesses. The state could stipulate that the businesses commit to continue operations and retention of employees.
Streamline business assistance at the local level, creating one form for filing all business licenses, appeals and fees. Also, mandate that local governments provide one Office of Business Assistance, providing one-stop agency resources and permitting rather than multiple agency applications and phone calls.
Streamline tax filings, audits and assessments by combining the duplicative constitutional offices of the Commissioners of the Revenue and Treasurers, saving taxpayers and the state and local governments hundreds of thousands of dollars.

State Commissioner to Re-Consider Norfolk BPOL Appeal

Commissioner Janie Bowen, Virginia Department of Taxation, met with VRF representatives who outlined the inconsistent responses from the local commissioner following a round of Norfolk audits on interior design retailers. The VRF pointed out that the Norfolk commissioner changed the BPOL category of approximately 10 small businesses, bumping them up to the service category from the lower cost retail BPOL tax. Moreover, the commissioner's audit responses were highly inconsistent. Some businesses received letters, others phone calls, at least one has had no response at all and another had the audit dropped after a personal meeting with the commissioner.

Consequently, Commissioner Bowen agreed to consider an appeal at the state level from one of the audited businesses. If favorable, her ruling will create a statewide benchmark for all commissioners to use when considering the BPOL category of retailers engaged in interior design and framing occupations.

Plastic Bag Coalition Initiates Model Recycling Project CottageGateLogo

At the latest coalition meeting of interest groups seeking a solution to plastic bag litter, the group heard a presentation from Tad Phillips, Allied Waste Management and the Virginia Waste Industry Association. In summary, Phillips outlined the strong precautions large operators in Virginia take to cover, clean and transport litter. However, he pointed out that reputable operators cannot control small "mom and pop" trash haulers who may not adhere to the same standards.

The group discussed its recycling project proposal which has suffered a temporary setback due to state budget cuts. However, an upgraded proposal, to include partnerships with plastic decking manufacturer Trex, commercial real estate management companies and retailers, has been submitted to a variety of private grantors. The coalition agreed that the revised proposal, which includes installation of recycling bins at strip centers in Isle of Wight and an aggressive marketing program, will be a model for the state. The project is scheduled to kick off this winter.