Century More Than Doubles Business Tax Rates

August 2, 2011

The Century Town Council voted to 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.  Others will increase more substantially, such as pharmacies to $100, entertainment establishments to $121 and factories to $132. The business tax receipt rates are being copied from the small town of Fellsmere, Florida.

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 in May, there were 56 companies and individuals that held a businesses license in Century, generating only about $1,400 per year in revenue.

““We were trying to pick out something that will benefit us a little bit but not be overzealous,” Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night of the choice to use the Fellsmere rate schedule.  “We are not making money.”

While the new business tax receipt rates were adopted Monday night by the Century Town Council, the council must still vote at a future meeting to approve an ordinance implementing the rates.

To view of the copy of the Fellsmere business tax rates as approved by the Century Town Council, click here.

Pictured: The Town of Century must revamp its current business license regulations and fees paid by businesses like Food Giant (seen in the aerial photo at top) and Whataburger. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

12 Responses to “Century More Than Doubles Business Tax Rates”

  1. David Huie Green on August 3rd, 2011 4:29 pm

    REGARDING:
    “What service does the city of Century provide”

    Others answered the specifics of that question. I was just commenting on the statement: “Government does nothing for business to justify taking their money.” because those things are so much a part of the background that many don’t even notice them or value them.

    The danger of forgetting that fact can be seen when we consider how the USA went to war with and conquered Afghanistan and Iraq.

    We won those wars, those wars are over.

    We just failed to replace the services the corrupt governments had been providing. This caused much unrest, much death among the locals and against us as we continue to occupy while afraid to just up and leave.

    In the absence of some form of legitimate government, illegitimate government will form. It may be warlords, mob bosses or drug gangs, but it WILL be something. Nearly everywhere you go, you’ll hear folks telling you to stay out of some area or other because it’s lawless. That’s what happens when basic government services aren’t provided.

    It’s possible to tax too highly or provide too little, but the idea that government does nothing of value to businesses is evidently wrong.

    David for perfect balance

  2. JIM W on August 3rd, 2011 1:30 pm

    Services do not come free. There must be taxes and fees for a city to provide what they do provide for you safety and wellfare. I know the county, State, and Feds provide a lot of things but your city provides services also and must pay for them. stop and consider what you are saying.

  3. No Name Given on August 2nd, 2011 7:57 pm

    Why is that? So Pensacola can use Century’s Tax money for their own? Let’s plant lot’s of palm trees up and down Hwy 29 leading the tourist from Century strait into Pensacola beach. Would Century ever see any of that money spent in Pensacola beach? Yeah… I thought not. It bugs me that these people from out of town can do 70mph through Century in a 35mph zone and they never get busted unless it is by a state trooper. But when it comes to the locals at 10:00 pm at night, you’d better be doing the speed limit because good ole Huckleberry Hound will jump out from behind a telephone pole and give you a blue light special.

  4. dola on August 2nd, 2011 7:33 pm

    Just another great reason Pensacola should incorporate this sad little town into there’s…

  5. escambia reader on August 2nd, 2011 2:50 pm

    “Excellent points David, but the federal, state, and county governments are providing those services. What service does the city of Century provide to justify collecting (and subsequently spending) this tax?”

    You are correct that most of these services are provided by other levels of government, but the town does provide the local roads (streets), drainage, parks, trash pick-up (garbage is charged for and contracted), etc. This seems like a small list, but the amount to be collected is also small and the costs of these services is not so small.

  6. Patriot on August 2nd, 2011 2:36 pm

    Excellent points David, but the federal, state, and county governments are providing those services. What service does the city of Century provide to justify collecting (and subsequently spending) this tax?

  7. David Huie Green on August 2nd, 2011 1:06 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Government does nothing for business to justify taking their money.”

    Roads, mail, weather service, emergency assistance, set a standard of exchange (id est money), educated workers, health, building and safety inspectors, judges to settle disputes, law enforcement to serve and protect, military to protect from invaders, legislators to entertain….

    David thinking that’s not nothing
    even if imperfectly done

  8. Kay on August 2nd, 2011 10:58 am

    AND we wonder WHY New Business doesn’t come here…..

  9. Jack on August 2nd, 2011 8:12 am

    Government does nothing for business to justify taking their money.

  10. D Tullis on August 2nd, 2011 7:55 am

    jus wondering?? the revenue will increase from this now “tax” by 1000% minimal. What is the town planning on spending this $money$ on ?? jus wondering??

  11. me on August 2nd, 2011 5:51 am

    That’s the way to bring businesses to Century, raise the taxes!!

    “Not making money”. Ha! Since when is government supposed to be in the business of “making money”.

  12. Patriot on August 2nd, 2011 2:35 am

    Mayor Freddie McCall said Monday night of the choice to use the Fellsmere rate schedule.  “We are not making money.”

    At last report in May, there were 56 companies and individuals that held a businesses license in Century, generating only about $1,400 per year in revenue.

    How is it that “they” are not making money? What is the city government doing for these businesses that offset the $1400 they are bringing in?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News