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Century Finalizes Ordinance To More Than Double Business Tax Rates
August 13, 2011
The Town of Century has finalized an ordinance that will more than double the town’s business taxes effective the fiscal year that begins October 1.
The average business tax receipt — the permit required to conduct business in the town — will jump from the current $25 to $55. Other business categories will increase more substantially, such as pharmacies to $100, entertainment establishments to $121 and factories to $132.
The town council will hold the first reading of the ordinance Monday night. A second reading must be held at a public meeting before the ordinance becomes law.
Under the new ordinance, anyone that engages in a business in Century that does not have a required business license could be subject to a penalty of $250 per offense plus civil actions and court costs.
The ordinance also requires “secondhand dealers” — those that deal in used secondhand or damaged articles by purchasing and selling them — to keep records on every transaction that will be open to inspection by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
The business tax receipt rates are being copied from the small town of Fellsmere, Florida, because Century failed to update their business license regulations and fees as required by the state by 2008, forcing the town to backtrack and fix the error.
In 1971, the responsibility of issuing building licenses in Florida shifted from the state to local governments. Century adopted a business license schedule in 1981. But following the 2005 to 2006 Florida hurricanes, Florida mandated that the business licenses should no longer be called a “license”, but rather a “tax”.
State law gave Century three choices: adopt the 1971 state rates and business classes, adopt the rates set by Escambia County (currently $26.25 for all businesses), or find a schedule of rates adopted properly by another Florida municipality such as Fellsmere.
At last report, there were 56 companies and individuals that held a businesses license in Century, generating only about $1,400 per year in revenue.
To read the complete ordinance, click here.
Pictured: Food Giant (top) and Whataburger (inset) are just two businesses facing an increase in the business tax in Century.
Comments
10 Responses to “Century Finalizes Ordinance To More Than Double Business Tax Rates”
David huie……makes since
bratt,
I don’t live in Century, so I figure it’s their business, not mine, but I don’t see how an additional $30 per year is going to break a business if it’s going to survive in the first place.
I believe taxes should be high enough to meet expenses. I don’t believe all expenses should happen in the first place, therefore, the taxes to meet THOSE expenses shouldn’t be needed because government shouldn’t be spending money on that thing. I don‘t believe they should tax to punish things they thought people shouldn’t do–whether it’s vice taxes such as liquor and tobacco or luxury taxes on yachts. (A current example: Our President loves to talk about taxing corporate jets but doing so would put thousands of workers out of jobs because they are making, flying and servicing the jets. There would be fewer if taxes are hiked.)
I know it’s possible for taxes or other costs to kill an industry. One of Century’s biggest problems was stealing by a few of their employees up to the point the businesses moved Starter and Wayne Dalton Doors out of Century, if I remember correctly.
An honest, hard-working work force would attract business or else start their own business. (Have I drifted off the taxes question?)
Different people disagree as to what taxes are necessary and sufficient. Since the people get to decide who to elect, even if they do something with which I disagree, I figure it’s up to them.
David for representative government
and perfect taxation
(neither too hot nor too cold)
David huie so u against tha raise er not really gona make a difference to ya? Juz a question cause I’ve read ur comments on bout every article n I’ve understood were u was comen from but I can tell wit this post.
REGARDING:
“Taxes are already higher than a giraffe’s butt!”
Considering, “the permit required to conduct business in the town — will jump from the current $25 to $55″
So a giraffe’s butt is currently less than $25 high? Is that in pennies, nickels, ones or fives? Stacked on top of each other or end to end?
No, you mean the total tax burden is too high and this is just one more straw on the way to breaking the camel’s back, right? So if they kept calling it a permit rather than a tax, it wouldn’t be so bad? I’m thinking if $30 per year will make or break a business, it probably won’t make it anyway.
David for tall African animals
Well if taxes keep goen up n r pay checks stay tha same it could put people outa business bcause more n more peoples gona turn to stealn n tha businesses will loose more money than they make so they gona either b shut down er juz take it among themselves to make tha decision to close. God knows enough people steal like it is…….don’t make tha numbers rise
Jeez, as if they aren’t taxing enough of our hard earned dollars. Taxes are already higher than a giraffe’s butt!
Get you some of that Democrats!
Alice, you are so right on…… but some people just read the headlines and didn’t read the fact it isn’t taxing all profits, it is just the business license…..it just has to be called a tax. It’s still way cheaper than any other city, I bet!
Does anyone seriously believe that raising the tax to $55 will put someone out of business or discourage a business from opening!? (I know it is popular to be pro-business these days, but isn’t this taking it a bit too far?) Quadrupling the tax to $100 would have been entirely reasonable.
Exactly what I say dola
Awesome… Lets raise the cost of doing business in a town thats already struggling to survive…