Itasca providing relief to businesses in the village

Itasca will be reducing all business license fees by 50% for 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision is one of many made by the village to provide financial relief to businesses in the town.

"With the length that this pandemic has gone on, it continues to hamper businesses from operating normally," Mayor Jeff Pruyn said. "We're continuing to help our business community survive these difficult times."

Any business in the village is eligible for the fee reduction. But a business must request it. The reduced fee must be paid in full. In addition, a business must have paid in full its license fee for 2020, which was due last January.

The move to reduce fees was considered by the board to be the most impactful way to help businesses in the village instead of waiving all license renewals. The business license renewal program generated $107,029 in revenue for the village in 2019. This year, that amount dropped to $87,710 this year.

Itasca is expecting to lose $35,000 to $50,000 in business license revenue for its 2021 fiscal year.

Pruyn has been heavily focused on keeping businesses afloat in the village. The "Itasca Bucks" voucher program that began in June helps provide financial assistance to local restaurants. And Pruyn has said that he would not enforce any bans on indoor dining in the village as well.