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It was also stated studies by the Committee indicated that the per employee base was <br />gaining wide acceptance because of its ease of application and administration. <br />He stated information regarding the number and types of businesses and number of <br />employees was obtained by mailing some 1500 return post cards to all licensed <br />business establishments within the City limits, with a 60% return of replies. <br />Councilman Bury stated again it had not been the intent of the Committee to achieve <br />increased revenues, but rather equitability. Revenues for 1965-66 were estimated to <br />have been $65,000 and only a modest increase was anticipated under this new proposed <br />ordinance, (entered in new 1967-68 budget as $68,000) most of which would be due <br />to levying a tax against businesses which had previously escaped under the pro- <br />visions of the present ordinance. Councilman Bury stated it was the Committee's <br />recommendation that the proposed Business License Tax Ordinance be introduced and <br />adopted by Council in order that it could be made effective the first of the fiscal <br />year, without intention of Committee to preclude possibility of future amendments, <br />should it appear desirable. <br />Councilman Bury commented on outstanding service performed by Mr. Bernard E. Nelson, <br />Vice -President of Municipal License Tax Association, an association supported by <br />business interests, working with the Committee. His experience, having worked with <br />a wide variety of business tax ordinances throughout the State, was invaluable to <br />the Committee. <br />Mr. Nelson, of Municipal License Tax Association, outlined <br />his Association's purposes, similar to a Chamber of Commerce, <br />a none -profit organization supported by business membership <br />and dues. They had recognized need for development of this <br />particular type of ordinance throughout the State where <br />under consideration by various cities, to seek the most <br />equitable for all concerned. He stated no ordinance could <br />rightly be considered 100% equitable and suggested hope that <br />business concerns would take the opportunity to offer construc- <br />tive criticism for review. <br />Councilman Granger entered the meeting at 8:00 P. M. <br />Mr. Don Johnson, 506 Sequoia Avenue, (Charles -Don Tires, <br />Inc., 1475 Veterans Blvd.) expressed his concern about <br />cost of administration of such a business license tax <br />ordinance. <br />Mayor Herkner asked Staff to reply. City Clerk stated she was not able to give <br />the exact cost of administration, but reported one employee working on business li- <br />censes 80% of his time, with remaining 20% on other duties in the Collector's Dept. <br />She stated only other costs would be nominal costs for printing of forms and mailing <br />licenses. <br />Mr. Johnson quoted a communication in 1964 by the Chamber <br />of Commerce after a study made of business tax, in which <br />they had recommended repeal of such a license tax ordinance <br />and such revenue be raised by increasing the property tax. <br />Mr. Johnson stated Mr. Jack Stuart was Chairman in 1964 of <br />the Chamber Study Committee. He read Mr. Stuart's communi- <br />cation dated April 5, 1967, declining to serve asa:member of <br />the Study Committee and challenging the legality of the ordinance. <br />Charles Sellers, owner of a one man operation barber shop <br />at 2347 E1 Camino Real, urged Council to not enact such a <br />tax proposal. <br />75 <br />MV 22 'Bi <br />