Commission considers raising business tax

SARASOTA — The City Commission will discuss this evening raising the local business tax, which is imposed on every business operating within the city limits.

State law permits municipalities to raise that tax by up to 5% every two years.

If the city chooses to forego an increase for the period of 2012-2013, it will have to wait until 2014 to consider another increase.

Some examples if the commission decides to raise the local business tax by 5%:

• Barbershops with more than four chairs would go from $18.29 to $19.21 per year.
• Gas stations with more than six employees would go from $173.08 to $181.73 per year.
• Restaurants with more than 100 seats would go from $274.39 to $288.11 per year.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].