Bills don't make cents to commission

The town collected approximately $165,000 through its business-tax receipt program in the 2010-11 fiscal year. Any individual or firm conducting business within the town’s boundaries must pay the fees, which begin at $33.60 (see fee schedule) and go into the town’s general fund.

But Florida House Bill 4025 and Senate Bill 760 would eliminate Chapter 205 of Florida Statutes, which gives the town its authority to impose the taxes on local businesses. The bills would effectively eliminate the town’s program and similar programs in other municipalities.

The Longboat Key Town Commission reached consensus at its Dec. 15 regular workshop to move forward with a resolution opposing the bills.

“I have checked with other municipalities and we are the forerunners on this,” Town Clerk Trish Granger told the commission. “No one else has even taken a look at this.”

Granger estimated that the town issues approximately 3,600 business-tax receipts each year. The town began levying the tax in the early 1960s.

Vice Mayor David Brenner said he supported the resolution.

“I know I’m supposed to be the business-friendly guy on this commission,” he said. “And you’d say, ‘Why don’t you eliminate all those taxes?’ But the fact of the matter is there’s a bigger issue in my view. It’s a home rule issue.”

Brenner said that the idea could make sense for some other communities but argued that the town shouldn’t want an outside party determining how it brings in taxes.

If adopted, the town will send a copy of the resolution with a cover letter to the Florida Association of Business Tax Officials and the National Bureau of Business Licensing Officials, along with the Florida League of Cities in an effort to generate opposition.