5 days ago
Kingsport officials address Rural King fee
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Rural King customers in the Model City have voiced their concerns regarding the store's 1% 'Economic Development Fee' on top of the retail price.
Kingsport Economic Development Director Steven Bower said store owners were transparent about the fee.
'The fee was brought to our attention right before they opened the store,' Bower said. 'They let us know they were going to implement it.'
Kingsport resident December Taylor said the signs posted were not easily seen.
'I had to hold my arms up to take a picture,' she said. 'That's how far up it was on the door. And had already been to the store twice before and still never seen it then either.'
On Taylor's receipt, the fee is listed as part of her tax. The sign posted by Rural King said they are working to have the fee itemized separately.
Although the fee only added an extra dollar or two to her total, Taylor said she wants to know how the money is being used.
'Where's it going?' she asked. 'You know, what is it actually for?'
According to the sign, the fee was added to comply with the 'Memorial Boulevard Development Project.' Bower said this doesn't refer to any specific project of the city.
'I believe it's just that they're on Memorial Boulevard,' he said. 'That's their address, so they've called it a Memorial Boulevard Development Project.'
On Tuesday afternoon, the city issued a statement making its position on the fee clear to the public.
'It is not an economic development fee for the city of Kingsport,' he said. 'This is a fee imposed by a private business. So we collect nothing from it.'
Taylor said she only wanted one thing from the business.
'An answer would be nice,' she said.
Rural King issued the following statement to News Channel 11:
The economic development fee helps Rural King offset a small portion of the significant investment in the Kingsport community, which includes new employment opportunities, increased tax revenue, and access to a broad array of differentiated products and services.
We're committed to being valuable long-term partners in the Kingsport community and look forward to demonstrating our positive impact on the local business landscape.
Rural King
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