License Fee Eliminated to Help Support Local Businesses

The Parker Town Council approved an ordinance during its Oct. 17 Council Meeting that will eliminate an existing fee for entities that hold a Town of Parker business license.

All entities that engage in business within the Town of Parker are required to obtain a local business license from the Town’s Sales Tax Division. Currently, a biennial fee of $20 is required per license. Monday’s action by Town Council eliminates this fee immediately for all new business license applications, as well as renewals. At present, the Town of Parker has nearly 6,000 active business license holders.

The purpose behind the fee removal is to ensure equal competition between local businesses with a physical footprint within Parker and online retailers. A recent Colorado State bill that passed on July 1, SB 22-032, prevents taxing authorities from charging a fee to obtain a local business license for any entity that does not have a physical footprint within its jurisdiction. Without changes to Parker’s existing law, local businesses would still be required to pay this fee.

“We have some great local businesses here in Parker, and we want to make sure they aren’t at a competitive disadvantage,” Parker Mayor Jeff Toborg said. “While eliminating this fee will have a small impact on the Town’s budget and resources, it is well worth it to keep Parker as business-friendly as possible. Our Town Council fully supports our small business community, and here is another great example of that.”

For more information about doing business in the Town of Parker, visit www.ParkerOnline.org/Business.