Knife Fight

New tax has beverly Hills' cosmetic surgeons up in arms

For decades, Beverly Hills' 2,400 doctors have taken advantage of a much lower tax rate than other commercial enterprises. That economic incentive along with access to a rich, image-obsessed clientele has given rise to a cosmetic surgery cluster, the Wall Street Journal reports. Now the city wants to significantly raise its tax rates for doctors, but the surgeons are fighting back using both sticks and carrots. While threatening lawsuits and mass exoduses, they're arguing they are an economic net good because they attract wealthy individuals from around the world to Beverly Hills for surgery. The city is sclaing back its plans, and hopes to reach a compromise by the end of the year. GEO