The state office of the National Federation of Independent Business is asking Governor DeSantis for an executive order waiving the business rent tax on small businesses until the coronavirus crisis passes.
On Monday, the NFIB Research released the results of a national survey showing that 76% of small business owners say they’ve already been impacted by the crisis. Of those, 54% report weaker sales, while 23% say they’re experiencing disruptions in their supply chains.
In a letter delivered today to Governor DeSantis, NFIB State Executive Director Bill Herrle writes: “… local governments in some of our most populous counties have already issued orders closing non-essential small businesses for the foreseeable future. These business owners still have payroll to meet, rents and mortgages to pay, and dozens of other obligations that they cannot simply wish away.”
Waiving the business rent tax until the crisis passes would help ensure that small, locally-owned businesses won’t be forced out business for good by government shutdown orders, Herrle said.
Here is Herrle’s full letter to Governor DeSantis
Governor DeSantis:
Thank you for your leadership during this unprecedented public health and commerce crisis. The decisions made in the coming days and weeks will undoubtedly be a key factor in determining how quickly our economy bounces back once this crisis passes.
The NFIB Research Center released our national COVID-19 small business impact study yesterday which found that 76% of small businesses are negatively impacted by the outbreak of the coronavirus. Of those businesses negatively impacted, 23% are experiencing supply chain disruptions, 54% slower sales, and 9% sick employees.
I write to you in a time when local governments in some of our most populous counties have already issued orders closing non-essential small businesses for the foreseeable future. These business owners still have payroll to meet, rents and mortgages to pay, and dozens of other obligations that they cannot simply wish away.
As the Governor of Florida, you are in a position to temporarily relieve some of these obligations for small businesses across Florida. On behalf of my nearly 10,000 small business members, I respectfully request that you consider issuing an executive order waiving the business rent tax found in section 212.031, Florida statutes, for businesses with less than 100 employees until this crisis passes. The money saved by these businesses will help to ensure that your local neighborhood restaurants and barbershops are not forced out of business by government shutdown orders.
Please contact me if you should have any questions.
Sincerely,
Bill Herrle
Executive Director
NFIB in Florida
