Lafayette officials debate business rebate

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — A proposal to end a rebate that helps businesses cover accounting expenses related to collecting sales tax remains up in the air after a lengthy debate at this month's Lafayette City-Parish Council meeting.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/W561KI ) the council delayed a vote on the sales tax issue last month, and there was no apparent consensus after Tuesday's meeting.

A small contingent of business owners pushed to keep the rebate in place. J.D. Morein, who owns an automotive services company, says the rebate covers just a fraction of the cost of computer software and personnel needed to process sales tax payments. He says he sees no reason to change what's worked for 50 years.

Officials say ending the rebate would generate an estimated $1.5 million annually in additional revenue.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com