Chamber poll reveals local opposition

Nearly two thirds of respondents to a Kalispell Chamber of Commerce survey oppose the proposed retail transaction fee.

The chamber polled its members earlier this month, with 116 responding. The survey was sent to more than 600 active chamber members.

The Kalispell City Council is mulling a proposed 9 cent transaction fee to pay for street maintenance.

Results of the poll, including personal comments, were posted Friday on the city of Kalispell website.

Chamber President Joe Unterreiner said there is confusion about which transactions would be included in the proposal and how non-payment by a retailer might affect the underlying landlord.

Many of those who attached comments to the survey said the proposal is vague and unfair to retailers.

“This fee is inherently unfair to businesses with large numbers of low-dollar transactions and is impossible to administer as proposed,” one chamber member wrote.

Another said “it feels to me like a back-door sales tax.” Some questioned the equity of imposing a 9-cent fee on a pack of gum while charging the same fee for a luxury item. One person wondered whether Sykes’ popular 10-cent coffee would be subject to the transaction fee.

Not all respondents opposed the transaction-fee concept. One chamber member stated support for the concept of user fees such as the proposed transaction fee.

“Business owners and private property owners in Kalispell shoulder infrastructure cost that benefit significant numbers of people that use but don’t pay for the benefit,” the chamber member stated.