City plans 2 percent business license hike

Carson City officials are planning a 2 percent hike to the city business license fees.

City Finance Director David Heath said the city hasn't raised the rate in two years. The raise is simply meant to keep up with inflation, he said.

"If the city revenues didn't keep up with inflation, we couldn't do business," Heath said.

The increase will add an extra $15,000 a year to the city's general fund, which is used to fund everything for personnel to paper clips. The city collects about $740,000 from business licenses a year.

Larry Osborne, executive vice president of the Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce, said last year, the chamber opposed the hike because "it was going to be done because the city could do it, and we didn't feel it was a proven need."

"This year there seems to be some need, so we said we wouldn't oppose it," Osborne said. "It's only $15,000. We discussed it (with chamber boards) and didn't find there was a lot of heartburn over it."

The fee hike will affect most licenses by no more than $2 in most cases.

If you go:

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: Thursday, 8:30 a.m.

Where: the Community Center's Sierra Room, 851 E. William St.