[Grovenet] A honking big increase in the City fees . . . . .

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Still, one might ask, if Forest Grove wants more businesses, why penalize
them? 

What possible additional expense has suddenly manifested itself that
justifies such an increase?

This is NOT a 'free market'. Businesses who don't want to pay it don't have
an alternative other than to leave. 

Of course that won't deter a "big box" like Wal*Mart. It'll just make things
harder on the small businesses.

Sounds like step 1 in the plan to "bulldoze that old useless downtown and
put in a Target!" (Wal*Mart's already in Cornelius). 

It seems that there must have been:

1) Gross mismanagement of Forest Grove that has allowed businesses a "free
ride" without asking them to pay a fair share of the expenses, or

2) A decision to no longer encourage small businesses in favor of large
businesses, or, 

3) An open attempt by the city to grab some cash from those 'filthy-rich'
business owners in town like Tom, Chuck and all the others. 

Ron D'Eau Claire 


-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Martha Khoury
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 4:41 PM
To: 'Forest Grove local interests list'
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] A honking big increase in the City fees . . . . .


Here's a bit of perspective: I was paying the City of Tigard a $50 annual
business license fee 15 years ago for having a home-based consultancy. I
can't imagine the fee has gone anywhere but up. --Martha K.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Bob Browning
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 4:14 PM
To: Grovenet
Subject: [Grovenet] A honking big increase in the City fees . . . . .



 If you are a small business man or woman who does business in Forest Grove
(and not necessarily have your office located here) or if you have a home
occupation, you may want to attend tonight's City Council meeting about
8:00 to 8:15 pm and be ready for a long haul. The City is proposing changes
to the Occupancy Permit (for me $59 for 10 years last
time) to an Annual Business License ($75 per year, if adopted - a 1271
percent increase!!!). I know I will be there to discuss this, and you and
your business friends should all be also!!

bob

You can see the whole proposal on pages 118 to 166 of the following:

http://www.forestgrove-or.gov/images/stories/government/pdf/Packets/CC01
-14-08A.pkt.pdf


***************************************************





EXHIBIT 1                                          RESOLUTION NO.
2008-10



ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 

BUSINESS LICENSE FEES Effective October 1.2008

 . First Time Application Fee..........
.......................................................................
$10.00 

Annual Renewal 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*<!--[endif]-->Businesses with 0 to 4
employees...................................
.................................... $50.00 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*   <!--[endif]-->Businesses with 5 to 10
employees.................................................... $75.00 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*   <!--[endif]-->Businesses with 11 to 50
employees................................................. $100.00 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*      <!--[endif]-->Businesses with 51 or more
employees....... $100.00 plus $1.00 per employee over 50 Capped at $250.00
annually 

. Temporary/Transient businesses 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<!--[endif]-->First Time Application Fee
........................................................................
........ $10.00 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<!--[endif]-->Up to 30 days of
operation.................................................
$15.00 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.<!--[endif]-->Between 31 days and 60 days of
operation........ ............................................... $30.00


<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.     <!--[endif]-->Over 61 days of operation,
treated as a regular business. 

 First Time Application, Applying between October 1 through March 31 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*<!--[endif]-->First Time Application Fee....
........................................................................
.... $10.00 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*<!--[endif]-->Businesses with 0 to 4
employees...................................
................................... $25.00 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*   <!--[endif]-->Businesses with 5 to 10
employees.................................................... $37.50 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*   <!--[endif]-->Businesses with 11 to 50
employees................................................. $50.00 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->*      <!--[endif]-->Businesses with 51 or more
employees. . .. . ... $50.00 plus $0.50 per employee over 50 Capped at
$250.00 annually 

. Temporary/Transient businesses 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<!--[endif]-->First Time Application Fee
......................................... , ...............................
. $10.00

<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<!--[endif]-->Up to 30 days of operation
...................................................................... .
$15.00

<!--[if !supportLists]-->c.<!--[endif]-->Between 31 days and 60 days of
operation ................................. . $30.00

<!--[if !supportLists]-->d.     <!--[endif]-->Over 61 days of operation,
treated as a regular business. 

 --