Catoosa business license forms to be mailed this week

ajohns@timesfreepress.com

Catoosa County business owners should expect a new tax form this week as commissioners roll out the county's first business license program.

Buster Brown, the county's director of zoning, said the returns will be mailed this week, but the fees won't be due

"It's just trying to know who's doing business in the county," he said.

Officially called an "occupational tax," the program requires business owners in unincorporated parts of Catoosa County to register and pay fees ranging from $60 to $400.

When they approved the new requirement in July, county commissioners made it clear the tax would not apply to yard sales, nor would businesses inside Ringgold or Fort Oglethorpe be taxed twice. Those were the two primary concerns residents voiced when licensing first was discussed in 2006, commissioners said.

So far he hasn't heard much from the business community, Mr. Brown said, but he expects a few phone calls when the letters go out.

"The feedback should come then," he said.

The letters will be sent based on information from the tax assessor's office, Mr. Brown said.

Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce President Martha Eaker said the Chamber has been pushing for licenses for years. She said it is important for county officials to keep tabs on how many businesses there are within the county.

"How do you measure growth if you don't know where you start?" she asked.

Catoosa Commission Chairman Keith Greene said the fees are small because the purpose of the licenses is to track businesses, not to bring in revenue, he said.

The new fee should help some business owners have the necessary license numbers to apply for grants, Mr. Greene said.

Frank Keith, who runs Cloud Springs Feed and Supply in the county, said he didn't think too many businesses would be affected financially because most fall below the five-employee threshold where fees apply.

"There's lots of businesses with only two or three employees," he said, including his own.

Mr. Keith said he could see the county's reason for the fee, but he doubted many business owners would make registering a priority because the license would be free for most of them. He suggested that the county should have included a nominal fee for all businesses so owners would take it seriously.

"I think that value would be good (for officials), but I don't see how they're going to get everyone to comply," he said.

FEES FOR BUSINESS LICENSES

* no fee: One to five employees

* $60: Six-10 employees

* $70: 11-15 employees

* $80: 16-20 employees

* $90: 21-25 employees

* $100: 26-30 employees

* $110: 31-35 employees

* $120: 36-40 employees

* $130: 41-45 employees

* $140: 46-50 employees

* $150: More than 50 employees

* $400: Professionals including doctors, counselors and attorneys

Source: Catoosa County Clerk's Office