By Parker Leavitt | The Arizona Republic
Looking to move past a “misunderstanding” on the issue of statewide sales-tax reform, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce on Sunday joined Mayor John Lewis in calling for a compromise on a proposal to abolish the state construction tax while supporting other provisions of the bill.
A joint statement from Lewis and chamber board chairman Jon Olson applauded Gov. Jan Brewer’s efforts to simplify Arizona’s sales-tax system, saying such change is “overdue” and necessary for economic growth.
But a proposal to replace the construction sales tax with a tax on the sale of contractor materials — a move that could strip fast-growing communities like Gilbert of millions of dollars annually — deserves more discussion, Lewis and Olson agreed.
“This is a massive shift in tax policy that severely punishes high-growth communities such as Gilbert,” the joint statement said.
Related: Another city opposes tax simplification bill
