2 responses to “City Council Goals – FY 2011 Part 1”

1. Joe

   February 24, 2011

   Here is one possible value for “X” from today’s Mercury Times:
   Larger businesses throughout the city and property owners on Burlingame Avenue could soon pay higher taxes to help the city solve its budget woes and replace downtown infrastructure.
   The City Council is considering a measure for the November ballot to charge businesses in the city a tax based on their size, perhaps by employee count or sales.
   The city has charged all businesses a flat annual tax of $100 since 1974, and some city leaders, led by Councilwoman Ann Keighran, argue that’s unfair.
   By charging medium-size companies $200 and larger ones $300, for instance, the city figures its business-tax revenue could double to about $1.6 million annually. The income surge would be welcome in a city that has closed a fire station, canceled its holiday parade and made several other recent cuts to deal with budget shortfalls.
   The full piece is at http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_17466837

2. jennifer

   February 25, 2011

   I totally agree with looking into a sliding-scale system. My art/graphics business started in the late 1980s with only local clients– Gates and Three Sisters boutique on Burlingame Avenue. I think I initially paid $75 for the license. I had one employee (myself). By the 1990s the fee was $100 and this remained the same up until I closed my operations in the late 2000s. It was a very modest business, so for me, the $100 was a very sizable chunk that added disproportionately to my expenses. It isn’t the city’s problem that I had a small business, however, it isn’t right that the large businesses are not paying fees proportionate to the scope of their operations.