LA VERNE — A proposal to almost double business licensing fees was withdrawn from the City Council agenda after nearly 50 business owners protested at Monday night's meeting.
After the city received about 335 protests from business owners--who furnish almost 46% of the city's sales tax revenues--the La Verne Chamber of Commerce requested that the council withdraw the proposal, which would have raised business license fees 75% across the board. The proposal would also have imposed license fees on operations conducting business in La Verne but not located in the city.
The council voted unanimously to withdraw the proposal.
Carla Sullivan, president of the chamber, which originated the idea, blamed the hostile reception on a lack of understanding of the proposal's benefits.
But many business owners said they thought that the proposal was an unnecessary intrusion into their operations. Others thought that its benefits would be minimal.
