Business Owners Worried About Governor's Proposal

Business owners in Champaign County say the new budget plan could force them to close their doors for good. That's a promise from one business, who says if the proposal goes through as written he and his business will be forced to move to Iowa. Dr. William Boulanger, owner of Obiter Research says the costs will be too high for his research lab to stay in the state. He says he'll have to stop building and start packing. He adds, "Right now we're in the middle of construction of our new facility, but if this goes through, we'll have to stop and make that facility into a warehouse and move to Iowa." Farmers say they will feel the worst of the effects. Unlike retailers, who can pass the tax onto consumers, farmers are at the mercy of the market. A member of the Champaign County Farm Bureau says, "The market offers us a price for our commodities and we either take it or we don't and if the market is not offering more, we will in essence be getting less because we're not able to pass that on to the consumers." The Farm Bureau and the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce say they're joining forces to take their concerns to Springfield. Both say they'll work hard to see this proposal shelved.