Printer-friendly version
By Miriam Raftery
October 10, 2013 (El Cajon) – Sunroad BMW is planning to open a luxury car dealership on the site of the former Toyota dealership at 720 El Cajon Boulevard, ECM has learned.
“BMW is spending $12 million for a state of the art BMW facility,” Councilman Gary Kendrick told ECM. “This is a direct result of our new city manager being very business friendly.”
In an e-mail sent to City Manager Doug Williford, Tom Story at Sunroad BMW wrote to thank staff for helping to move forward the project expeditiously.
“If there was an award for being a great municipality for doing business in, I would nominate El Cajon,” story wrote. “Hands down; your team is the best!”
The city’s Public Works Department approved pad certification for the project yesterday, clearing the way for a building permit to be issued.
Comments
El Cajon's sales tax will be going down actually
The El Cajon sales tax to build the new police station (endorsed by El Cajon Police and Firefighter associations) will drop by 1/2 percent on April 1 2015. El Cajon's tax will then be lower than La Mesa's.
The other 1/2 percent tax (which rolls back further down the road) was also endorsed by the El Cajon Police and Firefighters associations. This tax was used to fund police, fire and other essential services. Both were approved by a majority of voters.
People living outside the city, are exempt from the higher sales tax on new cars.The extra sales tax on new cars is only paid by El Cajon residents (no matter where in the state they buy the car.)
Comment out of touch
This new business will give the City of El Cajon money to provide services. I like paved roads and street lights. Maybe a cop or two. Animal skins can be really itchy so I goto Parkway to buy clothes but that's it, nothing else. I never buy food or gas. I walk to work and back twenty miles each way uphill.
Council out of touch
I wonder how many BMW's El Cajon residents will purchase?
El Cajon Stats:
-Unemployment rate 10.7
-30,000 living below the poverty line
-Median Income of $48,300
-Highest Sales Tax in San Diego County
People could come from outside El Cajon
particularly if the city partners with car dealers on promotions as they recently voted to do. I think a lot of people shop at multilpe dealers to see where they can get the best price, or the color and model they want which isn't always easy. I suspect folks buying BMWs, not exactly a low-priced car, might not be dissuaded even if the sales tax is a fraction of a cent higher, but we'll see.