Posted by Julie/MI on 2/3/07 7:03pm
Msg #173952

Jahari, do you think your girl will tax our services?

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070203/NEWS06/702030357/1008

Reply by bestcal on 2/3/07 7:19pm
Msg #173953

Re: Jahari, do you think your girl will tax -Hi Julie

Are you having a great and productive day?

Reply by Susan Fischer on 2/3/07 11:29pm
Msg #173974

This is Off Topic. n/m

Reply by Gary_CA on 2/4/07 10:47am
Msg #173991

If the subject line includes "Jahari" then OT is superfluous n/m

Reply by BrendaTx on 2/4/07 11:31am
Msg #173997

OT - First political post regarding the notary's business

This is THE one political post I have seen which affects the notary business. However, since it was phrased, "your girl" Jahari might take it as a political jab and get all crazy. Can't say that I blame him given the way people tell him to STHU all the time. Me included.

This is a really important topic that affects our industry (for once) but unfortunately people cannot look at problems like, "Here it is, now what are we going to do to fix it?" We have to bring in the Dems and the Reps...yours vs. mine....blaming what happened before rather than looking at solutions.

I suspect that lady ("your girl" is in a jam right now (along with the rest of the state's lawmakers) to figure out how to increase revenue in a state where a huge gap has been left by obvious decreased revenue to the state.

Ooops...I am in Texas...I was supposed to "move on" ... sorry.

Reply by MichiganAl on 2/4/07 1:54pm
Msg #174007

The possible taxing of notary services is off topic??

But apparently a woman being pulled over by the police is super duper relevant. I notice that you were happy to comment on that without any complaint that the topic didn't say OT. Interesting Suzie.

This is completely on topic and has very large implications (and maybe not just for Michigan). But even more interesting is that it might be the one and only question ever posed on a notary forum where Jahari's opinion might have some actual value (if he can manage to give it without sounding like a paid political announcement). I for one am waiting with baited breath...

Reply by John_NorCal on 2/4/07 8:47am
Msg #173982

I thought political posts were a no-no? n/m

Reply by Julie/MI on 2/4/07 9:23am
Msg #173985

Don't read unless you're in MI-will be OT to others!

Good grief, if you don't live in Michigan this thread doesn't apply to you! Skip it move on!

For 6 years there has been stuff about CA and credible witness and I say off topic because CA people have a darned handbook.

Jahari has mentioned that he keeps abreast of this kind of stuff, so butt out--it is very critical to me as I DO provide a service and I need to know what he knows about it. He is very knowledgeable about happenings that effect us. Move on folks!!!

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 2/4/07 11:23am
Msg #173995

This is about the possibility of our services being taxed in

MI. I would say it is very on topic and not just for those who are in MI. Good grief one state could lead the way for other states.

I certainly wouldn't ask JJ J@ck@ss about it though. All you will get is his opinion which wouldn't be so bad if he didn't continually treat those with differing opinions like ignorant, unenlightened, lower beings.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 2/4/07 11:35am
Msg #173998

Clarification

The new tax on services in MI is being bandied about by our governor Jennifer Granholm (who Jahari gives undying support to). Only two states have a tax on Services, South Dakota and I don't remember the other. FL adopted it a number of years back (seems like about 15) and quickly discontinued it because it was so regressive. Now our governor selected a "Blue Ribbon" panel (made up of a least one former democratic governor who almost brought us to our knees about 16 years ago so that makes him an expert and several other prominent democrats) from the tax and spend platform. There is no doubt that something must be done and done quickly in our state. What we really need is a business person, not a politician. We are like the business that starts to falter and the first thing that goes is the marketing budget (oh yeah, like more and new business wouldn't help our problem faster than anything else). Lansing's answer to everthing seems to be increase taxes. They even want to increase gasoline taxes $.10 per gallon. I could go on an on, but even those of you not living here are starting to get the idea.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 2/5/07 4:15am
Msg #174053

Re: Clarification - correction to clarification

Michigan taxes 26 of 168 services, ranking the state 39th in the nation, according to a 2004 survey by the Federation of Tax Administrators.

The actual survey is pretty interesting - http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/pub/services/services2004.xls

Reply by Mia on 2/4/07 8:49pm
Msg #174025

Interesting article Julie. We will have to see how things turn out.

The Govenor can not impose a tax increase just by saying she wants it......
the Legislature, Senators & the House have to vote on a tax increase.

MI does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.
We have 2 houses in MI, and we only really need 1 (MI is politician top heavy,
along with to many retirement funds for them).

If this tax does happen to get implemented, there will be more companies and
families leaving the State.
Let us know if you hear anything more.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 2/5/07 3:49am
Msg #174052

Found this ...

"Services sold from one business to another -- such as engineering, accounting and legal services -- also would likely be exempt ..." (Thomas Clay, analyst for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, a public policy think tank, in Det News article)

I would think the loan signing end of our field would fall under B to B service - and would then guess that the Notarial service, being performed by public servants, would likely not be a taxed service, BUT ... we shall all know soon enough.

Reply by Jahari Davis on 2/5/07 10:52am
Msg #174090

Hard to say Julie. I'm not exactly sure how they could, but if they wanted to they'd likely find a way. Truth is, they've got to find a way to fill the hole the eliminiation of the SBT left which is why this issue has been placed on the table. I could go on about Engler and taxes and I'm sure someone could go on about Blanchard and taxes before Engler took office. I think it was incredibly stupid to eliminate the SBT without something to replace the revenue generated from it. If I were Gov. Granholm, I'd look at raising the state sales tax from 6% to 6.5 or 7% or maybe look into establishing zones kind of like what California has with varying sales tax rates. Maybe eliminate the state income tax in favor of raising property taxes much like the way they do in Florida. The only issue with raising property taxes is that it could create a slight disincentive for many first time buyers to buy homes here due to the tax sticker shock on MLS listings. I've heard of incredibly stupid solutions like Beer and Alcohol taxes which in my opinion are reminicent of the tea taxes that led to the Boston Tea Party. In any case, taxes are going to have to be raised in addition to further cuts in state spending because they were so drastically cut under the Engler administration. Tax cuts are great, but if you cut them too much in the present, you create an imbalance where your successors will ultimately have to make the unpopular call to raise them later.

As to my detractors, two things. One, I didnt see you offer anything nor contribute anything to the conversation but instead take jabs and criticize while waiting and wondering what I would have to say regarding this issue. Honestly it kinda makes me feel like EF Hutton because whether you like it or not, your always gonna check to see what I have to say, LOL! Well, I've offered my piece on it and I'm sure that there will be more on it as this thing develops. Second, for those that continue to claim that I do not contribute to the site on notary biz...here you go. Thank you to Julie for asking my opinion. I hope we can discuss the issue further without it deteriorating into elephant dung.

Reply by Mia on 2/5/07 11:49am
Msg #174095

Maybe we should....

Maybe we should keep this thread going on the Michigan site.

Reply by Julie/MI on 2/5/07 12:51pm
Msg #174105

Re: Maybe we should....

What is a Michigan site?

Reply by Mia on 2/5/07 1:03pm
Msg #174108

Re: Maybe we should....

It's on Yahoo. It's the MIMN (Michigan Mobile Notary).