16 March 2020

This is Really Hard-To-Believe: No Business License Registration Requirements or BusinessLicensing Fees Here in The City of Mesa

What? Sure sounds "laughable" at first, but hold on a second:
This is not nonsense, and it sure is stupid!
So why do you suppose that's been the standard practice and operating procedures for here for so long?
QUESTION: Who benefits from no requirements for the privilege of earning income from a business that isn't required to register?
It's seems more than believe-able that some oversight agency is ready to investigate ...
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READ THIS:
File #: 20-0351   
Type: Minutes Status: Agenda Ready
In control: City Council Study Session
On agenda: 3/16/2020
Title: Audit, Finance and Enterprise Committee meeting held on February 24, 2020.
Attachments: 1. February 24, 2020 Audit Finance and Enterprise
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Audit, Finance & Enterprise Committee February 24, 2020
Starting on Page 2
Item 2-b.
Hear a presentation, discuss and provide a recommendation on a proposed Business License program and related fees. 
Business Services Director Ed Quedens
introduced Business Licensing and Revenue Collections Administrator Tim Meyer who displayed a PowerPoint presentation.
(See Attachment 2)  
Mr. Meyer reported Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa are the only cities where a business license is not required.
(See Pages 2 and 3 of Attachment 2)  

 Mr. Meyer listed the benefits of having a business license and stated there are 30,000 Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) businesses in Mesa.
He estimated Mesa will have 25,000 to 35,000 service business licenses.
(See Pages 4 and 5 of Attachment 2) 

> Mr. Meyer commented that taxable, service and home-based businesses will need a business license.
> He continued by saying
  • out of state businesses
  • residential rental properties
  • real estate brokers, agents and property managers,
  • insurance agents
  • wholesale liquor distributors
  • government agencies
  • schools and
  • transient merchants
Do not need a business license to operate.
(See Pages 6 through 8 of Attachment 2) 

> Mr. Meyer recommended hiring two full time staff members at a cost of $141,096 per year to administer the business license program.
(See Page 9 of Attachment 2) 

Mr. Meyer stated staff is proposing an annual Business License fee of five dollars.
He pointed out Mesa would have the lowest cost compared to surrounding cities.
(See Pages 10 and 11 of Attachment 2)
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Other Items:
Item 2-c
Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide a recommendation on a proposed Food Truck License and related fees

Item 2-d
Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide a recommendation on proposed revisions to the Mesa City Code for Peddler Licenses

Item 2-e
-e. Hear a presentation, discuss, and provide a recommendation on proposed revisions to the Mesa City Code for Special Event Licenses and related fees
at