Ponderay ups business license fees

PONDERAY — Businesses license fees will double for the approximately 250 businesses that hold a license in Ponderay.

Ponderay City Council members unanimously approved an ordinance Monday night to raise the fee from $25 to $50 annually.

"It costs more to process the business licenses than the $25 just to pay me," said Su Warren, Ponderay city clerk.

Warren said $50 a year is reasonable not only because of the time she spends putting the application together and entering the information into Quickbooks, but also the seven or eight pages of paper, stamps, envelope, copying and then putting the certificate together and mailing it — creating the need for more postage and envelopes.

Councilwoman Kathy Osborne asked if there was any possibility of raising it to a an amount that would not double the fee, but after hearing the process from Warren, she agreed $50 per year is reasonable. 

"It's a nominal fee and when I was out beating the streets I had people comment that it is pretty menial," said Ponderay Mayor Steve Geiger, adding that Sandpoint charges $50 for a first-time business owner with a $25 annual renewal fee.

During the meeting, council members also approved an ordinance to extend the city's liquor license deadline from Nov. 30 to Dec. 31.

Warren said she requires copies of state and county licenses before she can process a city liquor license. She said the county deadline is not until Dec. 31, which created a barrier for those who hit the county deadline but missed the city's Nov. 30 deadline.

"I've made it the same as the county so they have a little bit longer to put it together," Warren said.