1620 Associates News

Laurie Klotzbach Curtis, the director of the Vote No on Meals Tax Increase Committee, today announced that the voters of Plymouth have decisively rejected a meals tax increase by a 4-to-1 vote margin. The unofficial vote tally as of Tuesday evening was 16,408 "no" vs. 4,139 "yes" votes. Approximately 80% of votes cast were in opposition to increasing the meals tax in Plymouth from 6.25% to 7%.

Curtis said, "With this overwhelming vote, the people of Plymouth made the decision to protect local businesses from further suffering during this economic downturn. They acted to keep Plymouth an affordable community for residents and visitors alike and an attractive place to do business."

A costly burden on Plymouth residents and businesses

Plymouth is a great town – one with many fine restaurants and businesses and a tourist trade that is the envy of all the commonwealth. Why should we, as Plymouth residents, condone a new tax that could change this?

In October, Plymouth Town Meeting members (by a three-vote margin) failed to heed the recommendations of the Board of Selectmen and Advisory and Finance Committee and, instead, voted to institute a 0.75 percent meals tax at Plymouth restaurants and food service establishments. Fortunately, residents have a chance to undo this mistake Jan. 19.

Laurie Klotzbach Curtis, President of 1620 Associates, was appointed Chair of the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on January 8, 2010.  She has been a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors since 2008.

The Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee serves to educate members on political and legislative issues at both the state and local level, which may be of importance to the Chamber and its members. In 2009, the Committee conducted several member polls on critical local issues such as the proposed charter change and the meals and hotel local option taxes.  The Committee has also worked on statewide issues such as providing feedback on the recent changes in the state’s Economic Development Incentives Program (EDIP).  Members of the Committee serve as advocates with local and state government on behalf of issue positions adopted by the Chamber membership and  Board of Directors.

Laurie Klotzbach Curtis was named Executive Director of Plymouth’s Vote No on Meals Tax Increase Committee.  This municipal ballot question committee is spearheading the campaign to repeal a 0.75% increase in Plymouth’s meals tax which was passed at Plymouth’s annual fall town meeting in October.  Curtis worked with other committee officers and volunteers to gather the signatures of more than 3% of Plymouth’s registered voters to put this question on the ballot.  The special election on this referendum will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 along with the U.S. Senate special election.