A NO VOTE repeals the sale of all alcoholic beverages (off premise consumption only) in the City of Anna. Removing these locations is vital to protect the perception of this community and encourage growth through our prospective residents, commercial businesses and current citizens. If we allow this measure to pass we run the risk of driving away great economic opportunities for the citizenry.
Both retail development and the population growth has been explosive since alcohol was voted in. This is a scare tactic and just doesn’t reflect what we’ve seen in our town.
Encourages Economic Development: such as retail, restaurants, and industry. This provides essentials services to the citizens, generates sales tax revenue and creates jobs. How many of these places do you really think want to locate near liquor stores?
Approximately ALL of them. Business owners understand that liquor sales draw people from all over the county to Anna. They want the benefit of being in close proximity to a business that brings people from all over Collin County.
In the past 6 months we’ve added an auto parts store, three eateries, a nail salon, a dry cleaner, a tanning salon, and a health club. We’ll soon have our first supermarket. Other retail sites are being finished up that will house yet more restaurants and other retail outlets.
Protects your property values: The housing market has declined in the last year, do we need anymore contention in this area?Your investment is at stake!
The housing market being what it is, we should all be looking to protect our investments. The retail development that has come to Anna since 2005 is a major strength of our town as compared to other area cities competing with us for housing sales.
Eliminates Collateral Damage: SOB’s (Sexually Oriented Businesses) have a history of attempting to follow liquor stores. The Anna City Council enacted an ordinance this year to prevent this from occurring due to the secondary effects of SOB’S, however, cities cannot set a moratorium on SOB’S due to Texas State Law. Lets not encourage them to come.
The United States Supreme Court and the Texas Supreme Court have ruled that cities cannot ban SOB’s outright, but may limit the areas where they may open to protect the city’s interests from the secondary effects of those businesses. The City Council recently passed an ordinance that is among the strictest SOB ordinances allowed by law. The limitations placed on business owners seeking to open an SOB in Anna are so restrictive as to be an effective deterrent.
Prevents undesirable neighborhoods: The best time to do this is now. We have a unique opportunity as we are still building our town. The city is in a growing stage and we can curtail this situation before it ever happens. We can instead attract more family oriented businesses and residential developments.
The idea that your block will turn into skid row is certainly scary sounding, but the fact is that it has not happened and we see no reason for it to happen. This is an appeal to fear and our voters are smart enough not to be swayed by such arguments.
What the Other Side is saying!!!! The opposition will tell you that voting NO will decrease the sales tax revenue and increase your property taxes. This is TOTALLY FALSE! Sales tax revenue made up a very minor portion of the revenue in the prior fiscal year, approximately 250K. The city generates more money from Ad Voleerum taxes (property taxes) and Building and Development Revenue (new home and new commercial permits) than anything else. If we discourage potential citizens/ businesses from coming and do not continue to grow, this is what will make your property taxes go up.
Closing down the largest segment of our retail sales tax base will, by definition, decrease sales tax revenue. If we decrease sales tax revenue the city will have two choices: bring in more money or reduce services.
The city does generate a great deal of money on Ad valorem taxes and development permits, but with the nationwide housing market on the skids and new home building slowing down, the contribution to the city’s coffers from sales tax revenue is as important as ever.
We do not wish to discourage potential citizens or business from coming to Anna. That’s why we urge people to vote FOR continued beer, wine, and liquor sales. The residential and retail development in Anna since the vote that legalized alcohol sales shows that the presence of alcohol is not a detriment to growth, but a boon!
We support continued sales of beer, wine, and liquor because we want to Keep Anna Growing.
