federal, state and local taxes. Between motor fuels and in-store operations, the average store had 1,130 transac- tions per day. Cumulatively the indus- try conducted around 160 million transactions per day in 2011.
n NYACS helps block NYS tobacco tax hikes
The New York As soc i a t ion of Convenience Stores has succeeded in stopping New York State from further increasing tobacco taxes and thereby chasing more customers away from NYACS member retail outlets. In the new state budget for 2012-
13, which was completed March 27 and subsequently adopted. Governor Cuomo and the legislature agreed to remove the tax changes on cigars and loose tobacco the governor had pro- posed two months ago.
NYACS fought these tax hikes, argu-
ing that in New York, when tobacco taxes rise, tobacco consumers head for the nearest Indian reservation, border state, or bootlegger to avoid paying the higher tax – costing convenience stores business and costing the state tax revenue. NYACS President Jim Calvin attrib-
uted NYACS' budget-season success to the active involvement of its board of directors and legislative committee and outstanding work by its lobby- ist Scott Wexler of Ostroff Hiffa & Associates and its legislative counsel Doug Kantor of Steptoe & Johnson. He thanked Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and their colleagues for listening to the concerns of convenience store opera- tors about these issues.
INDUSTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS
n Karl Goodhouse, CEO of Clark Brands, passes away
Karl E. Goodhouse, founder and chief executive of Clark Brands, LLC (Naperville, Ill.) has died at age 57 after a brief battle with cancer. As president and CEO, Goodhouse was responsible for the overall direction of Clark Brands over the last eight years. He took on the duties of guiding all sales and marketing efforts for Clark as well. Goodhouse, Clark's original chief
executive, recently urged Clark's board to search for a suitable replacement and the company has begun a search for a new CEO. "Karl demonstrated a unique vision and adept leadership during his tenure at
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