The town has amended the confusing section in its new business licence bylaw that attempts to fairly define a non-resident business.
Heather Whymark, director of corporate services, told town council members at their regular meeting on Dec. 9 that some legitimate local businesses were paying too much for their new business licences because of the confusing wording of the section that deals with non-resident businesses.
When council approved the new business licence bylaw last August, the original wording for a non-resident business stated, “a person who does not reside in the Town of Innisfail, provided that if such a person pays to the town a business tax, in respect of a business, he/she shall be deemed for the purpose of that business to be a resident.”
Whymark proposed a simpler and less wordy alternative that a non-resident business is one that “does not own, rent, or lease a space within town limits that is used for the conduct of that business.”
“The old definition was that if you didn't pay town taxes you would be classified as out of town,” said Whymark, adding that some legitimate local businesses were then paying too much for a business licence -- $300 instead of $100. “We went back to the drawing board because we don't want to punish our commercial people in town. We redefined that definition – you must own, rent or lease a space in which you conduct business within the Town of Innisfail and you will be classified as a resident.”
Whymark requested council give priority to the amendment and quickly give all three readings as many local businesses are now quickly renewing their 2014 business licences. Council went through all three readings of the proposed amendment and it was passed unanimously.
Whymark said the town had received notice that four local businesses were charged too much for their 2014 business licence. She said money will be refunded to them immediately.
