Letter: Taxes on top of taxes

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February 10, 2012

The Salem News Fri Feb 10, 2012, 04:30 AM EST

To the editor:

I just received my annual form from the Beverly assessors' office listing all personal property at my business that is subject to taxation.

I am required to pay yearly taxes of $25.59 per $1,000 of value on every item I own, including my kitchen sink.

I already pay property tax, meals tax, excise tax and water/sewer/trash fees; but I have a problem with this one. It doesn't seem right.

I have already paid taxes on these items when they were purchased. The city does not make it easy for small businesses to succeed.

Susan Powell

Owner, Ryal Side Cafe

Beverly

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Opinion

Our View: Transient staff evidence of NOAA's dysfunction

Facing then-National Marine Fisheries chief Eric Schwaab at a hearing last summer, U.S. Sen. Scott Brown — citing the documented wrongdoing by former fishing enforcement chief Dale Jones, and the fact that Jones still had a $150,000-plus job on the NOAA payroll — famously asked, "What does it take to get fired at NOAA?"

The Salem News Sat, May 26
May 26, 2012 4:41 am
David M. Shribman: Respect for vets, confidence in military something we all agree on

In his now-forgotten statement proclaiming Memorial Day, the now-forgotten John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, urged Americans not to forget those who had died in the Civil War. It was only three years since the guns were silenced. The country was stitched together but still torn asunder. Much grief and hurt remained.

David M. Shribman The Salem News Copyright 2012 SalemNews.com, Salem, MA. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Sat, May 26
May 26, 2012 4:39 am
Quips & Quotes

" The reason it happens is the budget is the one bill that is almost guaranteed to pass every year. "
Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, on why there are so many amendments — almost 700 this year — tacked onto the budget

From News staff and wire reports The Salem News Copyright 2012 SalemNews.com, Salem, MA. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Sat, May 26
May 26, 2012 4:38 am
Our View: Time to move forward with Law of the Sea treaty

Senate Republicans, including the Bay State's Scott Brown, can demonstrate their independence from the party's loony-right fringe by joining Democrats in supporting the Law of the Sea Treaty.
In fact, while the U.S. has long been observing the main tenets of the pact, which has been in force since 1994, it has little say in how it is administered, having failed to join the nearly 200 countries that have endorsed it.

The Salem News Fri, May 25
May 25, 2012 4:46 am
Our View: Summer approaches

Anticipation of summer is high following a mild winter and OK spring. And while the season does not officially get underway until late next month, many view this weekend — the one when we celebrate Memorial Day, which many have off on Monday — as the informal start of New Englanders' favorite time of year.

The Salem News Fri, May 25
May 25, 2012 4:44 am
Nelson Benton: Looking in on our city councils May 25, 2012 4:42 am
Letter: Students are authors of their own success May 25, 2012 4:34 am
Letter: Brown vote a blow to recent grads' fiscal wellbeing May 25, 2012 4:33 am
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Letter: Things to consider before opening mall to traffic May 25, 2012 4:30 am
Our View: Great time to try Danvers Rail Trail May 24, 2012 4:38 am
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Our View: Unfair tax on medical devices should go May 24, 2012 4:36 am
Barbara Anderson: Memorial Day 2012 — Freedom is product of our veterans' sacrifice May 24, 2012 4:35 am
Letter: Save money and the Earth by recycling May 24, 2012 4:34 am
Letter: Beautiful church icons should be preserved May 24, 2012 4:32 am
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Our View: Salem schools — All must sacrifice for turnaround plan to work May 23, 2012 4:38 am
Our View: Tiny bridge has big problems May 23, 2012 4:37 am
Band director's final concert is tomorrow May 23, 2012 4:36 am
My View: Mr. Novack's opus — Love of music was band director's gift to countless BHS students May 23, 2012 4:35 am 1 Photo
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Our V0iew: Small groups produce big results May 22, 2012 4:50 am
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Ann McFeatters: Let issues, not hate, decide May 22, 2012 4:48 am
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Letter: Unique building shouldn't be demolished May 22, 2012 4:44 am
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