ANN ARBOR AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PUBLIC POLICY GUIDELINES
Revised– March 2008
These guidelines should be used as a tool to evaluate issues, and not be viewed as requirements.  The guidelines will not apply in every situation, and the Board and Public Policy Committee should review each issue on a case-by-case basis.

Tax Policy

Taxes are a significant cost of doing business and a significant reason why people and businesses move into or out of a community.  Prior to considering the levying of a new or increased tax for public services or community enhancement, a governmental body should first accomplish the following:

• Prove fiscal responsibility, efficiency and need in providing public services, including education.

• Evaluate whether programs could be funded from other sources, from cuts in lower-priority programs or from selling assets, prior to proposing any new taxes or fees, including operating costs

• Evaluate the ability of the private sector to provide proposed services

• Study the impact a new tax might have on the business community

• Provide taxpayers clear, understandable information that indicates the pros and cons of a proposal.

• Allow voters to vote separately on the major components of any millage.

• Ensure that the costs associated with administering new taxes, fees and regulations have been considered as well as the costs of compliance to business

• Taxes should not unfairly burden business

• The Chamber supports increasing financial accountability, sound long-term planning and benchmarking with similar communities.

Government

• Clear and efficient government is critical to the success of the business community.

• Local governments should consider collaborating to provide more efficient services and eliminate duplication

• Policies and regulations should be clearly written, narrowly interpreted, and applied fairly and predictably.

• As much as possible, regulatory costs should be spread widely, and in proportion to the scale of actions being regulated.

• Approval processes should be predictable.  Businesses should have a clear idea upfront how long an approval process will take and how much it will cost. Transparency-government should be open and clear in the information it provides to taxpayers,particularly regarding issues of taxation and spending

• Government should plan financially beyond the upcoming fiscal year, particularly given the trend in increased health care and retirement costs 

• Government should prioritize services based on importance and consider cutting or privatizing services and selling assets before considering increased taxes or fees.

Regional Planning and Development

Encouraging and fostering responsible business growth is essential for a healthy and vibrant Ann Arbor area community. The following principles support this goal:

• By encouraging businesses to locate, grow and thrive in our community, we strengthen the area’s economy, ensure diversified job growth, and increase the tax base for funding essential services.

• Recognizing that a healthy business environment requires efficent and responsive governmental regulatory system, we encourage govermental cooperation and consolidation where appropriate, to reduce costs, delays and uncertainties in permitting, approvals, inspections and licensing.

• Higher density development, as a means of growing business while efficiently using our existing infrastucture, should be encouraged in Ann Arbor and in corridors outside of Ann Arbor as part of a commitment to responsible growth. This wuld apply to both resdiential and commercial development and should be integrated with a comprehensive transportation network.

• The business community should not be disproportionately burdend with taxes, fees, assessments or licensing requirments.

• The impact on local business should be considered when making land use decisions, such as greenspace and development right purchases, to ensure such decisions are appropriate to location and are in keeping with the parallel goal of ensuring sustainable business growth and economic development.

 It is recognized that everything is not incorporated into these guidelines.  The Chamber Board has the authority to take positions on issues and will do so as needed.