Elgin hears big opposition to business licenses

More than 100 Elgin residents and business owners packed the city council chambers Wednesday night demanding the city stop requiring business licenses.

They hoped to force action on an issue that a vocal political group, Elgin OCTAVE — Operant Conditioning To Achieve Voter Expectations — has been organizing around for months.

In December 2009, the Elgin council unanimously agreed to start issuing business licenses, which cost between $35 and $595 a year, depending on the square footage of the business. Businesses that don't get a license could be fined $750 per day.

Jeffrey Meyer was the last of five opponents to speak during the public comment portion of the city council meeting. He summarized OCTAVE's arguments opposing the license, ending his statement with the evening's demand:

“As our representatives, you must heed our call,” Meyer said. “Repeal the Elgin business license now.”

Elgin Mayor David Kaptain waited for the group's standing ovation to subside before reminding everyone the council already made a decision about business licenses. At its Aug. 24 meeting, the council agreed to wait until January to revisit how the business license works and decide then whether to make any changes.

“That's the schedule for right now,” Kaptain said. “We're in budget discussions and we will plan on reviewing this right after the first of the year.”

Three business owners and one pastor spoke against business licenses for a variety of reasons: opposition to the use of the funds to pay the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Chamber of Commerce, to the requirement that nonprofits register even if they don't have to pay for a license, and to the cost, especially in light of increasing taxes and fees from other charging bodies.

Kevin Bunte of Bunte Auction Services said the city should be figuring out ways to attract businesses instead of “nickel and diming” them.

“The cost of the business license won't shut us down, but the problem is it's just one more hand in our pocket,” Bunte said.

The large group left quietly after Kaptain said no action would be taken Wednesday night — but OCTAVE co-founder Chuck Keysor said they would be back in January with the same message.

“We're not going anywhere and we're not giving up,” Keysor said.