The request is for City Council to adopt Resolution No. 2017-17 expressing the City’s opposition to SB330/HB487 regarding local business tax.

Currently, there is legislation being considered at the state level that would limit the amount of business tax and transfer fees that may be imposed, remove authority for municipalities to increase business tax rates and also remove authority to impose additional business taxes.  Local revenues, like the local business tax, are essential to providing municipal services, such as public safety, constructing and maintaining transportation infrastructure and providing for public parks and open spaces.  A diversified revenue base is necessary for the fiscal stability of local governments and improves their ability to serve citizens and businesses by using revenues to fund such municipal services such as zoning, permitting, code enforcement, police and fire services.  If this legislation should pass, it will reduce this source of general revenue and would require municipalities to increase taxes, fees and millage, or cut services to make up for the financial loss.