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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
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Member News & Events |
Staying on Top of the Hill: Week 7
There are five critical retail issues now in the hands of budget conferees (Senators & Delegates chosen to negotiate the budget or legislation where there is no agreement between the House and Senate). The following important issues are in conference:
1. Dealer Discount
The House budget provides a fifty percent reduction in the Dealer Discount for all retailers who are not required to report electronically their monthly remittance. Those retailers who do report electronically would receive no Dealer Discount.
The Senate budget provides no dealer discount, but suspends the dealer discount for this budget cycle. The Senate does direct the Department of Taxation to meet with retailers during the summer and develop a recommendation for providing a dealer discount to retailers; the report is due to the Governor by October 1, 2010.
2. Accelerated Sales Tax Payment
The Senate and House budgets contain an accelerated sales tax payment for those retailers with $1million or more in annual taxable sales. This would require retailers to estimate their sales based on the previous year’s June sales and remit the estimated tax on the 25th of June. The retailer would be paying taxes they have yet to collect.
VRF is opposing any form of accelerated tax payment. This “gimmick” was used during Governor Warner’s administration and at that time many retailers had to obtain loans to meet the estimated tax payment. Unfortunately during the present economy, many banks are reluctant to give loans.
3. Amazon Loophole Budget Language
The Senate budget amendment that contains language to close the loophole that exempts internet retailers who use affiliates (commissioned agents) in the Commonwealth is still in the Senate budget. Your VRF lobbyists are working with budget conferees to keep this amendment. Not only does the amendment bring uncollected tax revenue to the Commonwealth, it helps level the playing field for all retailers.
4. Weights and Measures
A funding solution in the Senate budget to add one tenth of one cent to fuel cost at the rack was offered by the Virginia Petroleum Convenience and Grocery Association. This solution would fund the entire Weights and Measures program, thus removing the proposed $17.50 per measuring device that was put in the budget by former Governor Kaine. It is yet to be determined if the House will accept this solution.
VRF appreciates the efforts of the VPCGA to offer this solution that helps all retailers.
5. District and Circuit Courts; increases in court fees
VRF has opposed SB 329, increasing fees in both district and circuit courts from (i) $27 to $75 in a district court civil action and (ii) the current scale of $60-$160 to $500-$1,000 in civil actions in circuit court. The fee increases under this bill in district court are allocated to the sheriffs' departments and the increases in circuit court are split between the sheriffs' (85%) and the commonwealth attorneys' (15%) offices to be used exclusively for achieving the current staffing standards of the two constitutional offices. The $10 fee for the Courts Technology Fund is removed from civil cases. The Fund still receives fees applicable to other filings in the circuit and appellate courts.
The bill has not been heard in the House Court of Justice Committee but is included in the Senate version of the budget.
Click here to view the letter sent to budget conferees to express the VRF position or support for the above issues. The letter was authored by Margaret Ballard on behalf of VRF.
Other Legislative Update
In the past week HB1010 that dealt with the definition of gambling passed the Senate with a substitute. The VRF concern dealt with games used as promotional events. The final substitute did clarify that retailers who had promotions that offered game pieces to participate in the promotion would not be considered gambling as long as game pieces would be provided with or without a purchase.
To view legislation that passed click here.
To view legislation that failed click here.
To view legislation that was carried over until next session click here.
Member News & EventsRock the Shamrock at Enzo'sMarch 17, 4:00-10:00 pm Celebrate St Patty’s Day at Enzo’s! Specials on beer and Irish drinks . . . Down home Irish food . . . plus the unique: Try the Corn Beef & Cabbage pizza! www.enzositalianchophouse.com/Enzos.html Virginia Wine Week to Offer Love By the Glass
March 22-28 First-ever statewide event promotes Virginia wine in restaurants and wine shops. The Virginia Wine Marketing Office and the Virginia Tourism Corporation today announced Love By the Glass, the first-ever Virginia Wine Week. Wine lovers will celebrate Virginia Wine Week March 22-28, 2010 at more than 100 participating restaurants and wine shops across the state. Look for Virginia Wine Week posters, menus and decals or visit www.VirginiaWine.org to find participating businesses Biz Jam! “How to Market Your Business and Increase Your Customer Base”March 25th 4:00-6:30 pm What is a Biz Jam? It’s a Business Jamboree! Who will be there? Panelists, specialists, experts, local business owners and guests. Want to learn more about how best to market your business? Come to Biz Jam, hosted by James River Trade Exchange, and meet five marketing and advertising specialists. Discover what makes their industry unique and learn about diverse strategies to increase your customer base. Network with other local business owners and executives, meet James River Trade members, and learn more about how barter fits into the big picture for growing your business.
Holiday Inn I64 West End. 2000 Staples Mill Ave., Richmond Register at www.jamesrivertrade.com/Events.htm. @MaryFramer Makes the Cover of National MagazineRMA member Mary E. Fender MCPF, GCF, president of Frame Nation LLC, is featured in the current issue of DECOR Magazine, the Art and Framing Business Resource. Fender and her company, Frame Nation was selected to be featured by DECOR’s editors because of the company’s use of social media in marketing their art & framing business. The issue arrived Saturday, March 6, 2010 and an Internet version is available online at http://decormagazine.com/. The article contains an introduction with the 3 year history of Frame Nation in Richmond‘s river district, how the company began using social media and different related successes. At the closing, Fender was asked to add a glossary of common Twitter and Facebook terms as well as social media tips for other art & framing professionals. Frame Nation was nominated in the RVANEWS 2009 Internet awards for Best use of Social Media by a business and Fender spoke on the social media panel for the Retail Merchant Association First Friday Forum in February. Fender was invited and honored to be one of three “guest twitterers” for the recent Times Dispatch Public Square on jobs in Virginia with Lt. Governor Bill Bolling. The Powhatan Historic Bike Tour to benefit the Free Clinic of Powhatan
Sunday, April 25 Come kick off the Spring cycling season in beautiful Powhatan County, Virginia. Powhatan will host the First Annual Powhatan Historic Bike Tour to benefit the Free Clinic of Powhatan. The Powhatan Historic Bike Tour has three rides designed to appeal to cyclists of all abilities. The rides include a 100 mile century, a 100 Km (62 mile) metric century and a 50 Km (31 mile) half metric century. All three bike tours are on gently rolling, country roads with scenic views. Additionally, fully stocked rest stops will be provided at unique historic sites along the routes. We look forward to seeing you April! Go to www.powhatantourism.com for all bike tour information, or contact The Powhatan Historic Bike Tour, c/o Maureen Moslow-Benway, mmoslowbenway@yahoo.com (804) 598-0959 - no calls after 9:00 pm please |
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