Chapter 86 Buying Police Cars

Five years tax exemption?!

After hearing Benjamin's words, Carter was honestly surprised.

To paint a simple picture, it felt like being summoned by the boss at work. You trot into the boss's office, expecting the worst, fearing a "but" that might lead to your dismissal. But instead, the boss showers you with praise, even suggesting a possible promotion or favor. It's unexpected, surprising, and strangely delightful.

While five years tax exemption wasn't exactly cash in hand, it was pretty close! Especially considering property taxes, which were a major source of revenue for US municipalities.

In Carter's case, the bulk of his assets along Highway 23 was actually land, with just one shop. Even though the income tax might be high, the sheer amount of land meant the property tax would likely be higher. So, exempting that portion of the tax would indeed save him a significant amount of money!

The surprise was pleasant, albeit unexpected. But upon reflection, Carter understood why the old fox across from him was making this offer.

In terms of "serving one term, benefiting the community," Benjamin was doing a good job.

Previously, Douglas had stable security and living conditions, and this time was no different. After Benjamin's reminder, Carter realized the importance of the highway commercial area in times of monetary scarcity.

The logic was simple: the businesses within the city mainly catered to the locals. Whether these businesses thrived or not, the city's total money supply remained unchanged.

The only way to increase this total was to bring in money from outsiders.

Though the gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants might seem inconsequential, their location was strategic. Being far from the city meant they catered primarily to outsiders passing through. Despite the worsening economic environment, these travelers would still need food, gas, and water.

Basic needs were inevitable. In Benjamin's eyes, Carter's highway commercial area would definitely make money; the only question was how much and whether it could offset the costs. His job now was to help reduce Carter's costs, allowing for higher profits. And with profits came the ability to hire more employees, reducing Douglas's unemployment rate and making Carter's political record look better!

Understanding this logic, Carter felt less anxious and spoke up confidently:

"Well, Uncle Rob, I understand your point. There's actually something I might need Chief William's help with."

"William? The police department?"

Benjamin was surprised, momentarily unable to connect the highway commercial area with the police department.

"Yes, since the area is quite far from the city and still relatively deserted, security is a concern. If there's a safety issue, it might be hard to attract workers."

Carter nodded, confirming that he hadn't misheard. Security was indeed a significant concern when doing business outside the city in these times.

American road surveillance was patchy, especially in 1979. Doing business with outsiders carried risks, and highway robberies weren't uncommon.

Originally, Carter planned to use Trufari and O'Neil's men as security, but if the mayor himself offered police officers, why bother with gang members?

"What you say makes sense, but our police department is short-staffed. Also, Highway 23 falls under the jurisdiction of the state police. Would it be appropriate for our city police to intervene?"

Benjamin rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Clearly, he wasn't blindly optimistic about the security situation outside the city.

"How about I try contacting the state police? Maybe we can arrange for their patrol cars to make occasional rounds? What do you think? Highways have never been under the city police's jurisdiction. I worry that William's men, even if they go, might cause more trouble than help."

"I understand that road enforcement isn't the city police's job, but relying solely on the state police's patrol cars wouldn't be effective. We never know when someone might get ideas. If there's a police car parked there, or even parked in front of my commercial area, the deterrent effect would be completely different."

Carter furrowed his brow, feeling a bit conflicted. US city police primarily operated within city limits and rarely ventured beyond.

The jurisdiction of the state police theoretically covered the entire state, but their limited numbers meant they couldn't be everywhere at once.

Relying solely on the state police wasn't realistic; he needed city police!

"Uncle Rob, what if I buy a police car? I'll park it in the vacant lot in front of my commercial area. I assure you, I won't misuse it or impersonate an officer. Having a police car there will give my employees peace of mind, and it will reassure me as a business owner. Plus, Mr. William can send people to inspect and supervise anytime, checking the mileage to ensure I'm not misusing it. What do you think?"