Local Business Owner Concerned About Fiscal Cliff Negotiations
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: January 1, 2013
Kris Kincaid owns Kincaid Roofing in Lubbock. He said for him, a major concern would be him losing business if no deal is reached, and people have more taxes taken out of their paychecks.
"It's the uncertainty that makes everyone more conservative with their spending," said Kincaid. "Especially at the beginning of the year, we look at where our money's going to go, it's going to affect the entire economy, like advertising, that may be something we cut back on."
Kincaid worries that the conservative spending by consumers could result in his business losing customers, as they turn to take home improvements into their own hands just to save a few dollars.
"When things get tight, they'll do the work themselves, in order to save some money, and with that comes problems of it's own, but I definitely think that will affect it," said Kincaid.
It's not just small businesses who are worried, but farmers as well.
"It all comes together, it all fits together, and agriculture is just a big part of what goes on here in this area," said Steve Verett, Executive Vice President of Plains Cotton Growers.
Verett said the Farm Bill is a key part of the Fiscal Cliff deal, but only in the short term, only about 9 months, as the Farm Bill would expire again come September.
Verett said they need to eventually get to more than just a one year deal, and it's important for more than just the farmers themselves.
"It's the people that process that cotton, transport the cotton, the imputs, the fertilizers, the fuels, all the supplies that go into that, are important too, it's not just that farm, it's all the businesses that help support that," said Verett.
Kincaid said he worries any cuts made would ultimately impact his business. "It effects our spending, which affects our advertising, our equipment purchases, stuff like that just to build our business it takes money, but when there's less coming in you're going to have to tighten the ropes and be more conservative with the way you do business," said Kincaid.
Kincaid also said he's already expanded his business to more than just roofing in order to help gain customers for any kind of need.


