binki
New Member
The City of Angels decided it can make money by making business owners pay to put an open sign in the window.
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_15820635
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_15820635
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City of Los Angeles now citing business owners for putting name and hours on window
- Thread starter binki
- Start date
David Wright
New Member
Who couldn't see it coming?
SignManiac
New Member
It's going to get a lot worse, just wait and see.
Letterbox Mike
New Member
Over-regulation of everything?!? Wow, I didn't see that coming...
binki
New Member
Oh, it gets better. Our State sales tax board, the Board of Equalization, is on a mission to physically visit every business in the state to 'educate' us on the proper way to collect sales tax. Nothing more than a shake down to find other things to tax us on.
We are not in LA or even LA county but close enough. Our city bangs us for an extra biz lic. fee because we have city owned parking lots (the fee was established to pay for the bond which has been paid for but they still collect the fee) and the county bangs us each year for property tax on our equipment even though we paid sales tax on it when we purchased it (yes, CA charges sales tax on equipment used to produce sales taxable goods!) so it doesn't take long for your equipment to cost double the purchase price just in taxes.
Our county also just started a new law that regulates open fires for bbq's and has just killed the bbq food vendors at street fairs.
We are not in LA or even LA county but close enough. Our city bangs us for an extra biz lic. fee because we have city owned parking lots (the fee was established to pay for the bond which has been paid for but they still collect the fee) and the county bangs us each year for property tax on our equipment even though we paid sales tax on it when we purchased it (yes, CA charges sales tax on equipment used to produce sales taxable goods!) so it doesn't take long for your equipment to cost double the purchase price just in taxes.
Our county also just started a new law that regulates open fires for bbq's and has just killed the bbq food vendors at street fairs.
oldgoatroper
Roper of Goats. Old ones.
"The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state."
I cannot remember who said this... some old Greek, I think.
<edit>
Google says it was Cornelius Tacitus - (55-117 A.D.) -- a Roman...
I cannot remember who said this... some old Greek, I think.
<edit>
Google says it was Cornelius Tacitus - (55-117 A.D.) -- a Roman...
Last edited:
SignManiac
New Member
The state department of health just hit me up for another permit. I've been here in my new location for four years. They claim that they just discovered I have a well for my water, and I am required to pay an annual permit fee of $125.00 plus $80.00 to buy the bottles from them and have my water tested. All because my business address is tied to my home address. I have no sign out front and I'm not open to the public. My business is internet or clients that call me and I go to them. They said tuff sh!t, the public might drink your water.
The state is desperate to find revenue and is uncovering every rock they can find. I accused them of that and they denied it. I questioned them as to why a private residence isn't required to test their well water systems? They have children and the elderly drinking far more water than I do here by myself, and that makes no difference.
I'm already making plans to get out of the business within the year if things work out. I'm going totally underground, off the grid and plan to vanish as far as the governments concerned. No phone number, no address, no credit cards. I've about had all I can take. Enough is enough....
This country is going to be in big trouble when they start losing the revenue that small business provides to keep this country running.
The state is desperate to find revenue and is uncovering every rock they can find. I accused them of that and they denied it. I questioned them as to why a private residence isn't required to test their well water systems? They have children and the elderly drinking far more water than I do here by myself, and that makes no difference.
I'm already making plans to get out of the business within the year if things work out. I'm going totally underground, off the grid and plan to vanish as far as the governments concerned. No phone number, no address, no credit cards. I've about had all I can take. Enough is enough....
This country is going to be in big trouble when they start losing the revenue that small business provides to keep this country running.
Craig Sjoquist
New Member
Over regulation indeed, they just make laws , common sense has nothing to do with it.
Kentucky Wraps
Kentucky Wraps
Another Reason I moved to KENTUCKY
Cost of living is dirt cheap, gas is cheaper, homes are cheaper, no smog, less gangs, lower taxes, less traffic...the list goes on. But that doesn't mean I want all you moving out here...so don't be getting no funny ideas.
I went from South Orange County, to San Bernardino County & L.A. to KY...and I LOVE IT.
Cost of living is dirt cheap, gas is cheaper, homes are cheaper, no smog, less gangs, lower taxes, less traffic...the list goes on. But that doesn't mean I want all you moving out here...so don't be getting no funny ideas.
I went from South Orange County, to San Bernardino County & L.A. to KY...and I LOVE IT.
Joe Diaz
New Member
We have similar zoning laws and sign ordinance in our town. However, being a sign shop and knowing ahead of time what needs to be done to erect a sign, we have never had an issue with zoning. The way I have always felt about it is this: You have to go through the zoning department when you want to build about anything right. Why should signs be any different? What I don't think should be happening is government officials making decisions about the design or layout, rather than decisions about the safety of a sign. The whole deal about sign ordnances should be safety. I feel like it has moved in a different direction.
What we don't want to see though is customers trying to install their own projecting sign without knowledge on the correct way to do that, Or covering an entire south facing window with black vinyl only to have the window break. So in that case an enforced sign ordnance is a blessing in disguise for us sign makers, because it insures that business owners will seek out sign professionals to do the job right.
We have a sign ordinance that states that we only have a certain percentage of a building or windows or store front that can be used for signage. I don't know if there is a safety reason for doing that or not, but as a designer I think there definitely is a good reason, aesthetically speaking. I'm just not sure the government should be making that call, however its a rule I don't mind following. You can always apply for a variance if you need to. And in our town it doesn't seem to be a difficult procedure, but it does take a while.
I think if the sign makers in a town have issues with their local sign ordinance it is there duty to do something about it. and I know some have.
What we don't want to see though is customers trying to install their own projecting sign without knowledge on the correct way to do that, Or covering an entire south facing window with black vinyl only to have the window break. So in that case an enforced sign ordnance is a blessing in disguise for us sign makers, because it insures that business owners will seek out sign professionals to do the job right.
We have a sign ordinance that states that we only have a certain percentage of a building or windows or store front that can be used for signage. I don't know if there is a safety reason for doing that or not, but as a designer I think there definitely is a good reason, aesthetically speaking. I'm just not sure the government should be making that call, however its a rule I don't mind following. You can always apply for a variance if you need to. And in our town it doesn't seem to be a difficult procedure, but it does take a while.
I think if the sign makers in a town have issues with their local sign ordinance it is there duty to do something about it. and I know some have.
Rooster
New Member
Rent a post office box. If they come back tell them you moved the business to a more tax friendly county/state.
shakey0818
New Member
nice post SignManiac.they will lose alot of money if they keep taxing us and finding other ways to screw us.im totally underground and have been for over 10 years and i highly recomend it .ill pay sales tax with no complaints.im not paying taxes unless i get to vote on where it goes and i can track my $ with some device to see if there using it properly.
visual800
Active Member
this all comes down to COUNTIES BEING BROKE because of the economy. Somewhere in each city or town the "Idiots in charge" sit down and ask themselves, "What kind of bullshit charges can we come up with next?"
In out town they have just passed the "cell phone ban" its a secondary offense meaning they can't pull you over for it BUT if the officer has other reason s to pull you over your gonna pay. And if your LOOKING for something you gonna find it. Our business licenses fees have increases to astronomical heights, Im still pissed about that, but doctors, lawyers and such like that dont have to pay it
This article here though takes the cake. This is the dumbest thing I have ever read. The economy is causing lots of pressure to be placed on the middle working class for financial support and the working middle class are not the ones that caused it...THATS JACKED UP
In out town they have just passed the "cell phone ban" its a secondary offense meaning they can't pull you over for it BUT if the officer has other reason s to pull you over your gonna pay. And if your LOOKING for something you gonna find it. Our business licenses fees have increases to astronomical heights, Im still pissed about that, but doctors, lawyers and such like that dont have to pay it
This article here though takes the cake. This is the dumbest thing I have ever read. The economy is causing lots of pressure to be placed on the middle working class for financial support and the working middle class are not the ones that caused it...THATS JACKED UP
Pat Whatley
New Member
I was just going to mention that Bruce. A sign shop in Montgomery that brings in $300,000 a year will pay $1700 for the "privilege" of doing business here. A doctor or lawyer doing $300,000 will only pay $125. On top of that we've got a 10% sales tax.
Because of those two things I got a county business license based from my house. Anything I subcontract (half of my business) is now run through my at-home office. My clients are saving 5% by not having to pay the city portion of the taxes and I'll be cutting my business privilege tax in half.
Because of those two things I got a county business license based from my house. Anything I subcontract (half of my business) is now run through my at-home office. My clients are saving 5% by not having to pay the city portion of the taxes and I'll be cutting my business privilege tax in half.
What exactly DO you get in return for all this tax?
I hate handing over my money to Her Majesties Revenue and Customs but at least I can see the benefits of paying tax all around me? Where does ALL your money go? Who gets it?
From an outside perspective it looks very much the case that the average American pays just as much if not more tax than the average European whilst getting virtually none of the benefits in return.
I hate handing over my money to Her Majesties Revenue and Customs but at least I can see the benefits of paying tax all around me? Where does ALL your money go? Who gets it?
From an outside perspective it looks very much the case that the average American pays just as much if not more tax than the average European whilst getting virtually none of the benefits in return.