Small companies in the county of Nassau could take a break in the avalanche of local costs linked to dozens of licenses and licenses required.
The legislative county legislator, Seth Koslow, who presents himself against the director of County Bruce Blakeman for his headquarters in November, proposed legislation last week to reduce local license fees for companies to 85%.
“If you want to prepare dogs, hang a sign or repair the locks in Nassau, you look at hundreds of dollars in annual costs – it can be read less like a license calendar and more like a Shakedown list,” Koslow told post.
“Small businesses are in a hurry.”
The proposed legislation would reduce the costs of more than 30 types of commercial licenses – including those involving dry cleaners, locksmiths, dog groomers, health clubs and home service providers – which currently cost Nassau business owners between $ 650 and $ 1,300 per year.
This is more than triple what neighboring Suffolk County companies pay for the same licenses, which generally vary from $ 100 to $ 200 per year, which makes Nassau fees from 225% to 550% higher depending on the license.
Koslow told the post that the Suffolk model was essentially the plan for his bill.
“Why should a young entrepreneur in Nassau pay triple what someone pays on the county line,” said Koslow. “It is not competition, it is a punishment. These costs reach the most harshly for women, minorities and startups belonging to veterans. This bill is how to level the playground.”
David Adeoya, a financial advisor based in Nassau, who works with small businesses in the region, told the post that the proposed legislation could provide an essential breathing in entrepreneurs who had trouble staying afraid in a difficult economy while making Nassau a more competitive place to do business.
“Many small businesses are faced with an increase in costs and at higher import prices, so the drop in these costs can offer significant alleviation,” said Adeoya.
“The lower license costs mean that business owners have more space in their budgets for necessities such as stocks, endowment and equipment while having potential flexibility to add more effective tax assets – things that directly support the growth and stability of their businesses.”
The director of the county of Nassau, Bruce Blakeman, said that he would be on board the legislation.
But he also noted that license costs report so much money for Nassau that lowering them by almost 80% could have a significant impact on the county budget.
“I am happy to reduce the costs, provided that the Democrats find cuts matching expenses,” Blakeman told post.