Business Licenses and Permits:: Published by Corporation Service Company » Blog Archive

Citizens and business owners will have one final chance to express their opinions about the proposed business license and other related fee changes by the North Ogden, UT City Council. Officials will hold a third meeting and may even vote on a proposal that would raise disproportionate services fees and force landlords to pay for a business license.

The disproportionate service fees covers items such as excessive calls to emergency personnel. In the past these costs were passed on to taxpayers, but the proposal would pass the expenses on to the business itself. Along with the increase in service fees, the City Council also feels landlords should be charged business license fees for each property owned and rented.

These fee increases have business owners very nervous because of the rough economy. Big retailers have the most concern with the disproportionate service fees because they make police calls at a much higher rate than other businesses. A study showed for every call, it costs the city $135.

Whichever way the City Council eventually decides to vote, there will be many people upset. Hopefully for everyone the economy starts to recover so issues like this aren’t so heated. It rarely ever helps when residents or business owners are forced to pay additional taxes.

Ryan Julson, Business License Research Analyst, Corporation Service Company