Business Licenses and Permits

Businesses operating in Elgin, Illinois, that have already paid their food business license inspection fees for 2011 could be entitled to a rebate.

As part of a study into whether the city is simply covering its costs with business license fees or actually making money from them, around $10,000 will be given back to firms in the downtown, central business area, the Courier News reported.

This comes after fees for food inspection have increased nearly 300 per cent in the last two years alone. In 2009 revenue from the fee was $76,000, rising to $160,000 in 2010; this will likely rise again in 2011 to $236,000.

This, Mayor Ed Schock said, was attributable to Kane County requesting that fees be leveled at its own rate, while Elgin city pays the Kane County $10,000 a year to help with any food-borne illnesses.

However, Schock has said that the cost of the license has risen too quickly.

Around 62 businesses pay for the fee, the news provider stated, although not all have paid their 2011 fee and these firms will not be entitled to the rebate.

Tags: business licenses, business permits, licenses, permits