Council hears update on delinquent ‘places for eating’ taxes and business license enforcement

City Administrator Tony Graff told the council the city recently held hearings on delinquent places-for-eating tax accounts and that one business has committed to catch up on its payments.

Graff said some businesses did not appear at administrative adjudication hearings and remain in that enforcement pipeline. When asked whether a business could operate without a business license while owing eating taxes, Graff replied that the businesses in question did not have a business license for 2024, and that the clerk’s office must file a complaint to begin enforcement for operating without a license.

Council members pressed for more specifics on the number of hearings and tickets issued over the past year; Graff said staff would provide an update on who was ticketed and how many times they were summoned to administrative hearings. “We’ll get you all that information,” Graff said.

Why it matters: Places-for-eating tax revenue and business-license compliance affect city revenue and fairness to operators who follow licensing rules. Council members raised concerns about prolonged noncompliance and requested follow-up reports.

Supporting details: Graff said one business was two months behind and committed to pay; other businesses did not attend hearings. He said code enforcement is aware of the delinquent accounts and that the clerk’s office handles the complaints necessary to begin ticketing for operation without a license.

Ending: Council requested a follow-up report listing which businesses were ticketed and how many hearings they missed; staff agreed to provide that information.