Worker cleans bed at Oceania Tanning in Murrells Inlet
/ Mola Lenghi
As new health care reform measures slowly take shape. One such measure turns up the heat on tanning salons, an industry that services around 30 million Americans every year.
Salon owners can expect a 10% tax increase on their businesses, which they say will impact their bottom line, their employees, and their customers.
"I think we're kind of getting used to the fact that more taxes are coming with the new health care bill," said Chris Popoff, who owns Oceania Tanning in Murrells Inlet with her husband.
"Its sad. I was a proponent of the health care bill. That's the reason that my husband and I opened this salon, to help out with our health care in retirement," she said.
Some have praised the tax on tanning, hoping it will deter people from frequenting the salons which have been linked to some health risks.
But Popoff says if you use tanning beds properly and safely, they can provide benefits.
"Now they're talking so much more about the Vitamin D and how we need it and need the sunlight. Tanning beds provide that for people who cannot get outside," said Popoff.
In a previous version of the health care bill, the cosmetic industry - which provides such services as botox and plastic surgery - was slated to receive a tax increase as well.
Popoff believes that tax would have raised more money than taxing tanning beds.
But she tells NewsChannel 15, "Because they could afford the lobbyists they got it thrown out." That's something the tanning industry certainly couldn't afford, Popoff said, considering it's made up mostly of small business owners who are middle class Americans.
"The middle class will be affected and a lot of the owners of salons who are women especially. Two-thirds are women, and they predict that 9,000 jobs will be affected by this," described Popoff.
Salon owners also believe they'll have to pass the costs down to the consumers.
"I think it has to be. I don't know how the salons can not do it. Maybe not all of it, but certainly the largest part of it," said Popoff.
Meanwhile salon owners seem to continue to turn up the heat on lawmakers.
"It could be repealed for all we know. The fight is still on, and we're still writing our Congressmen and hoping that they will do something," said Popoff.
Lawmakers say the 10% tax on tanning services will generate nearly $3 billion over 10 years to help insure the uninsured.
The tax on tanning salons is not expected to take effect until this summer.
To leave a comment, scroll down and click on "post a comment."
