CA in 2014 = High Taxes & High Unemployment 6 Higher CA taxes make it difficult for businesses to compete  California consistently rated least biz friendly by the CEO Roundtable  Without incentives, growth companies may look elsewhere CA Over 175 cities & 36 counties at >9% unemployment; we need jobs Economic Development is the primary solution for CA Cities:  Private investment = growth in real estate values and economic activity (local business spending, new wages, retail sales)  Cities help themselves & State by helping companies to invest  320,000 new jobs yield $1 billion dollars per year in State GF revenues Cities need Real Estate projects for Economic Development to add jobs, raise jobs and improve quality of life Economic development is tougher but possible without tax increment Source: Ballotpedia, 2012; 2013 Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey.
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