The company working on a new development for the Haigis Parkway, which includes a Cabela’s sporting goods store, has stopped working with the town as it awaits a ruling from the Maine Revenue Services.

We join those who have called on the Maine Revenue Services and Gov. John Baldacci to give Cabela’s an answer on whether its catalog and Internet customers will be exempt from the state sales tax if the retailer builds a store here.

Cabela’s has requested a ruling on whether its customers would be exempt under the way its company is set up. Cabela’s is made up of three separate companies – each responsible for sales over the Internet, from catalogs and in physical stores. Therefore, the company believes, its catalog and Internet customers should not have to pay sales tax because the company that runs the physical stores is building one in Maine. This argument has drawn opposition from Portland state Sen. Ethan Strimling and another Maine-based sporting goods retailer, L.L. Bean.

Cabela’s has said the company will not build a store here if it does not get a favorable ruling from the state. That position is unfortunate, considering the company, the state and the town all stand to gain far more than the sales taxes at stake.

The Cabela’s store is anchor of a development that includes a Hampton Inn Suites hotel, restaurants, a bank, stores and office buildings. The development would generate jobs and sales tax revenue that would far outweigh what Cabela’s customers would pay in taxes on catalog and Internet orders.

This project is important, and the company deserves an answer so that developers and town planners can get on with their work. Most Maine taxpayers probably got their income tax returns in less time than it’s taking the state to give this company an answer.

The ruling is likely being held up for one reason – the impending election. A ruling that results in a hit to the Maine economy would also likely be a hit to Baldacci’s re-election bid.

That’s also unfortunate. Business deals too often wait for the political climate to change, on the local and state level. State and local leaders need to make sure this doesn’t happen, and make sure that decisions that need to be apolitical are just that.

Whatever answer the Maine Revenue Services finally gives, we hope the state, the town and the company will be able to find a way to go forward with a project that will benefit everyone.

Last chance to see inn

Residents will likely get one of their last opportunities to attend a public event at the Black Point Inn, a Prouts Neck landmark, Friday.

The Scarborough Kiwanis Club is holding its annual auction and benefit for the Maine Children’s Cancer program at the inn.

A company, BPI Partners, bought the inn last year and received approval to redevelop the property. After the inn closes for the season in November, renovations will begin. The company is planning to remove most of the inn’s 84 rooms and develop some of the land for single-family homes. The porch, living room, dining room, lobby and bar will remain intact.

Those interested in viewing the inn as it has been since 1923 should attend this gala event, which raised about $28,000 for charity last year.

Tickets cost $60 and are available at the Gorham Savings Bank and Maine Bank and Trust in Scarborough. They are also available through the Web site for the Maine Children’s Cancer Program, www.mmc.rg/mmc_body.cfm?id=2324.

Brendan Moran, editor