07/04/2026
Independence YES. Taxes NO. Happy Independence Day, Fountain Inn.
Small businesses are closing their doors in our city due to inflation, taxes, insurance costs, and burdensome regulation. Costs that are passed down to customers have proven that it's already too much. The "growth" has destroyed family businesses' livelihoods and small town charm to make way for the developers, big corporates, and private equity investors who are gifted economic incentives by those who are meant to represent us.
While we celebrate freedom, local politicians and bureaucrats are discussing more ways to collect from citizens:
A possible 1% Fountain Inn sales tax.
A possible 1% Greenville County sales tax.
Higher Fountain Inn Natural Gas meter fees (25%+) and distribution charges (10%+) amounting to $5MM of annual cost (not connected to the price of actual Natural Gas.)
A new utility rider.
Diverting more of the existing 2% hospitality tax on prepared food and beverages to growing government, continued hiring, and public relations campaigns that tell us what a great job they're doing. Meanwhile, a smaller percentage of that revenue goes to the non-profits like the Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce, Younts Center for Performing Arts, and Fountain Inn History Center with strings attached.
Before voters are asked to approve another penny, City representatives should have to answer one simple question in the public eye:
Why are we considering adding new taxes before reviewing, reducing, or eliminating the taxes and fees we already pay that have hurt small business and grown government?
It's time for Independence from taxation without representation, again.
(Did you remember to pay your $100 firework fee? yes, seriously.)
