By a split vote, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to increase business licensing fees
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2024/08/by-split-vote-sacramento-county-board.html
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| Sacramento County finance director Chad Rinde explaining the new licensing fees during the Board of Supervisors meeting. | |
By a 3 - 2 vote, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved across-the-board business licensing increases. That approval, effective on October 1, came during yesterday's Board of Supervisors regular meeting.
During a staff presentation by the county finance director, Chad Rinde noted that some fees, such as fictitious business name statements, have not increased in five years.
"Our fees are designed for cost recovery, they are designed to recover the cost associated with issuing licenses and compliance activities," Rinde said. We do not set our fees to generate a surplus for our licensing division, and it is not a tax like some jurisdictions charge."
In addition to the increase, the fees will also be adjusted annually based on the consumer price index. Many of the fees will increase by as much as 29 percent, while home-based business fees will drop by 20 percent.
New tobacco fees and massage businesses will see larger increases. The tobacco license fee will increase by 39 percent to $495, while new massage parlor licensing will increase 268 percent to $778.
Rinde said the significant increase for massage parlors was to cover the cost of annual health and sheriff's department inspections.
Speaking for the Sacramento Sheriff's Department, Sgt. Nate Gergitch told the supervisors surprise visits have cost the agency about $100,000 annually. Gergitich said some surprise visits are undercover and designed as vice enforcement.
During deliberations, Supervisor Pat Hume said he appreciated the sheriff's department's enforcement efforts. However, he noted that legitimate businesses have to pay for bad actors within that classification.
"The fact that people out there who are criminals who are breaking the law is making life harder for the rest of us just irks me," he said.
Supervisor Sue Frost joined Hume in opposing the increase. The new fees can be viewed here.
After the vote was taken, board chair Supervisor Patrick Kennedy added, "I believe that takes us to a happy ending."
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