Why Shop Central?

By Woody Jenkins

CENTRAL — There are at least four reasons to re-direct your spending to retailers located in the City of Central:
• Develop Central’s Retail Sector. The only way more businesses will locate here is if the retailers we already have are successful and making money. If Central develops a reputation as a profitable place to own a business, more retailers will locate here.
• Jobs for Central residents. Most employees of Central businesses are Central residents. When you spent money with Central’s businesses, you help give employment to Central residents — and that’s very important today.
• Sales Taxes Support Central Schools. The sales tax rate in Central is 9.5 percent. Of that amount, 2.5 percent goes to the Central Community School System. So every time you spent $100, $2.50 goes to Central schools. Of that $2.50, 50 cents goes toward the construction of the new Central School Complex.
• Sales Taxes Support City Government. Of the sales taxes, 2 percent goes to the City of Central to pay the costs of city government. While the school system relies on both property taxes and sales taxes, the City of Central levies absolutely no property taxes. So sales taxes are the main source of revenue for the city.
Last year, retail spending was about $260 million in the City of Central. But it is estimated that Central residents spend more than that in the City of Baton Rouge.
The more money spent in Central, the better for Central businesses, Central employees, Central schools, and the City of Central!