THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606130016
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 29 lines
No one can dispute the positive impact on Norfolk that EVMS has had, and certainly the helping hand of Dr. Mason Andrews needs to be acknowledged.
As mentioned in your recent editorial, the impact of EVMS goes far and wide. While certainly the direct tax benefit to the cities described in the editorial is important, the full measure of its economic impact is far greater than outlined.
EVMS supplies hundred of positions, each being remunerated accordingly.
From that payroll base, state and federal taxes are collected; rents and mortgages paid; food, utilities, clothing and automobiles purchased (fueled and repaired too); vacations taken; airline tickets purchased; insurance bought; entertainment enjoyed, movies seen, restaurants patronized and servers tipped; long-distance phone calls made; letters mailed; holidays celebrated; household plants bought; medicine provided - the list goes on and on.
That is only the first level, for each person who exchanges goods and services for a portion of the EVMS employee's wages in turn does exactly the same thing - exchanges the money received for some goods and services he needs or wants. This economic-exchange cycle began before history, originally as bartering, and will continue in some form indefinitely.
COURT RYAN
Norfolk, June 4, 1996 by CNB