Oct 15, 2009

‘Shop local’ efforts kicking off this weekendBy Ashley GebbAppeal-Democrat.com

Residents can prepare to be slammed with an onslaught of “shop local” messages starting this weekend.

Yuba City is launching its Think Yuba-Sutter First campaign Friday with print advertisements, a Web site, radio spots, video and rack cards on Appeal-Democrat newspaper boxes. In partnership with the city’s effort, the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce is kicking off a holiday shop local campaign.

“We are heading into the shopping season, and I think it’s the perfect time to get people thinking about where they buy and what they buy for the holidays,” said Councilman John Dukes.

The sales tax revenue generated by local purchases has steadily declined in recent years and impacts residents’ and communities’ quality of life through safety, infrastructure and recreation, he said.

“Everything that we purchase, if we have it locally, we should be buying it locally,” Dukes said. “Whether it’s clothes or building materials, it all adds up.”

Think Yuba-Sutter First emphasizes that buying goods, such as vehicles, out of the area puts money in another city’s general fund, he said. Customers who buy a car in Sacramento may pay Yuba City’s sales-tax rate but the tax stays in Sacramento.

“If those sales-tax dollars are not there, we have to cut services,” Dukes said. “We cannot run a deficit in a city government.”

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