“Yes I do. It would reduce the sales tax loss to Gilroy, bring more purchase power to the local economy through lower prices and driving costs and add jobs.” Read more here.
Panelists answered the question, would Walmart be good for Hollister?
Richard Place: “Yes I do. It would reduce the sales tax loss to Gilroy, bring more purchase power to the local economy through lower prices and driving costs and add jobs.”
Marty Richman: “Absolutely, every study shows the county’s enormous commercial leakage, 48th per capita out of 58 counties. Many of our residents already shop at Walmart – just not here.”
Nants Foley: “Walmart might stop a little bit of the retail exodus in this county – it appeals to the same customers as Kmart and Target. I would rather see a hotel being built!”
Mary Zanger: “No. Walmart would remove money from the local economy rather than feed it. Lower prices would destabilize all the businesses in its radius. Low wages would put less money in the pockets of workers to spend locally. More people would need food stamps and health care to supplement low wages. Less tax income would burden services.”
Ruth Erickson: “On the positive side, the sales tax would stay here to benefit this city/county and there’d be less people going to shop in neighboring counties. On the negative side, some of our locally owned, small stores will probably do less business. We also need more, well-paying jobs to keep residents of this county from needing to commute out of this county rather than more of the low-paying, part-time jobs of this large, chain retailer.”
