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Residents voice concerns

ELKINS — Elkins business owners again voiced their opposition to a possible increase in city B&O taxes and a 1 percent sales tax at a Rules & Ordinance Committee meeting Monday.

City officials are exploring new revenue streams and are doing “research” into the feasibility of either adjusting the B&O tax or adding the sales tax.

Business owners voiced concerns about the possibilities at a Revenue Committee meeting Thursday, and again said Monday the increase or imposition of such taxes would be detrimental to a downtown business community that already is dwindling.

Elkins resident Clark Martin noted that four businesses have recently closed, including Wild & Wonderful Antiques on Davis Avenue, a downtown hair salon and the American Mountain Theater. The theater is only hosting 10 gospel shows this year and not producing its usual annual slate of more than 200 shows.

City officials stressed that they only are in the preliminary stages of accessing new revenue streams and that nothing is final.

Still, business owners in attendance asked city officials to begin being more forceful in collecting past-due B&O and business license taxes before considering an increase in or an addition of another tax.

The next meeting of the Rules & Ordinance Committee is scheduled for 5 p.m. Feb. 9 at Elkins City Hall.

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