NewsWest 9
MIDLAND - It's been a couple of weeks since the government's tanning tax took effect and already small business owners are feeling the burn.
"Right before this past June, we were already 30% down on sales since the economy, and now with the tax, that put us at 40% down," Salon Owner, Patty Holmes said.
Holmes has owned "Endless Summer Tanning Salon" for years, but now with the 10% tax hike she says she isn't sure what will happen to her business in the near future.
"I think it's going to show in the next couple months what we need to do, I can't say right now but I want to stay in business but the 40% is going to be a big lift," Holmes said.
"This is a joy doing for me, so I'm not going to let it stand in my way from what I enjoy," Julie Savage, who goes to the tanning salon, said.
The government's tax hike is said to bring about $3 billion into the health care reform within a 10 year time frame; some tanning customers say even with the tax hike they'll continue to sit under those UV rays until they can no longer afford to do so.
"I guess I'll just have to play it by ear and see how high it goes," Savage said.
