Spend $20 on the 20th of June

By Dale Liesch (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Saturday, June 13, 2009

There is no need for a massive government bailout. Doing something to help your local economy could be as easy as spending money.

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. and the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce are asking all residents of Tallapoosa County to spend $20 on June 20 to help stimulate the local economy.

TPI General Manager Roger Steele said the idea behind the community-wide promotion is to help stimulate the economy and generate tax revenue for the area.

“Our main goal is to make this a win-win situation for everyone in Tallapoosa County,” Steele said. “Residents will have access to some great deals; business owners will enjoy the extra revenue; and our local governments can put the extra tax dollars to good use.”

Tallapoosa County administrator Blake Beck said the move would bring money to area schools through the county’s one-cent sales tax.

“Anytime we can keep money in our county, it will help everyone indirectly,” Beck said. “It is definitely desirable to keep the money in the county.”

Participation in the event could prove to be of massive benefit for the entire county as its 41,475 residents could spend as much as $829,500 if everyone spent $20 on June 20.

Alexander City Mayor Barbara Young said the implications of the event could be enormous for Alexander City and its 15,008 residents.

“I think it will be great,” Young said. “We could have our own mini-stimulus campaign. Our general fund will feel that.”

Young said sales tax revenue placed in the city’s general fund would benefit many city departments such as police, fire, streets, recreation, landfill, public works and the senior nutrition program.

Young added that the event would also emphasize the importance of shopping at home rather than leaving the county.

“There is no downside to this at all,” Young said. “Everybody will have to buy groceries or something and they might as well do their shopping on June 20.”

Chamber president and CEO Marvin Wagoner said the chamber is happy to support the venture that would hopefully bring additional tax revenue in to the area.

"It's hard to measure just how much it will impact our economy, but if everyone participated, I think it would make a huge impact on our local businesses and economy," Wagoner said. "If you can't spend $20 on the 20th, I'd encourage you to spend $15 or $10."

Several local merchants have joined the cause and will be offering specials on June 20.

Outlook Managing Editor Brent Maze contributed to this report.

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