Joe Forte
Submitted photo
By Joe Forte | Tempe
As a Tempe small business owner, I run a home-based book publishing company to supplement my income. The proposed general business license offers no support for businesses like mine, only added fees, paperwork and regulatory burdens.
I spoke against this at the May 22 Tempe City Council meeting and launched a Change.org petition, now with over 100 signatures, opposing this misguided policy.
Councilmembers claim to champion small businesses, but this license contradicts that stance. Here’s why they should reject it:
1. Unsustainable costs: The proposed fees won’t cover the staff needed to administer the program, inevitably leading to fee hikes that further strain businesses and the city budget.
2. No tangible benefits: The license provides little to no value for businesses or nonprofits, adding costs without enhancing our operations.
3. Redundant data collection: The city can access business data through data brokers, making this program unnecessary.
A better alternative is creating a no-fee, opt-in online database where businesses and nonprofits can voluntarily list their information. This approach is cost-free, encourages participation and provides the city with valuable data without burdening entrepreneurs.
Organizations, including mine, would gladly share details for a Tempe.gov backlink, boosting visibility and supporting local SEO efforts. Unlike the mandatory license, this fosters collaboration, promotes businesses and achieves the city’s data goals without financial strain.
Supporting small businesses means more than photo ops at local eateries. It means crafting policies that ease, not hinder, our ability to thrive. Mayor Woods has opposed federal tariffs alongside Sen. Mark Kelly, recognizing their harm to businesses and consumers. Yet, this license acts as a local tariff, a tax that burdens Tempe’s entrepreneurs, especially those barely scraping by.
I urge readers to email councilcommunicator@tempe.gov to voice opposition and join me at the Tempe City Council’s final public comment and vote on Tuesday, July 1 at Tempe City Hall. Let’s reject this costly, ineffective policy and demand better for Tempe’s small businesses.
Editor’s note: Joe Forte is a small business owner and candidate for Tempe City Council. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
