Trustees table business license fee increase amid debate over tiered approach for small businesses

Trustees debated a proposed increase in the village business license fee, which had remained $30 since 2004. Economic development and finance committee members said administrative costs justify a higher fee; trustees discussed whether to adopt a flat increase or a tiered schedule based on square footage.

Trustee Lepore and others supported a modest increase to align with neighboring communities. Trustee Mason proposed amending the ordinance to set the fee at $75 (reduced from a proposed $100), including late fee adjustments, to ease impact on small businesses. Trustee Schaller proposed a tiered structure based on square footage, suggesting lower fees for small businesses and higher fees for larger operations; Trustee Laporte cautioned that implementing a square‑footage tier would require substantial administrative data collection and work by the building department.

After debate, a motion to table the ordinance and return it to the Administration & Finance Committee passed. Trustees and staff said they would work on a fair approach — potentially a tiered structure — but decided further research was needed before adoption.

Discussion only: trustees debated policy and administrative impacts. Direction: item tabled and referred to A&F for further study; no fee change was adopted at this meeting.