Century Approves Business Tax Rate, Bills In The Mail

October 4, 2011

The Town of Century has given final approval to the same business tax rate charged by Escambia County, backing down on plans to effectively double  rate.

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. Under state law, Century could adopt the fee schedule of another Florida government. The town had settled on the Fellsmere, Fla., fee schedule, which would have increased average business tax receipt — the permit required to conduct business in the town — from the current $25 to $55 or more. Under the Fellsmere plan, some businesses such pharmacies, entertainment establishments and factories would have paid $100 or more per year.

Monday night, the Century Town Council gave final approval to the business tax receipt rate of $26.25 per year charged by Escambia County. The tax bills were to be printed and mailed Tuesday. The tax is normally due on October 1.

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”, such as the “business tax receipt” in Escambia County.

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.

Pictured: The Century Town Council in session Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News