County should require, charge for business licenses

I was wondering if the citizens of Manatee County knew that Manatee County government does not require businesses to purchase a business license before opening a business in the county. This means anyone can open any business in the county, and it takes an act of God to shut them down if they are illegal.

This is the reason there are so many shady “Massage/Spas” and illegal gambling establishments in the county. The cities of Bradenton and Palmetto require a business license, like most cities in the state, so illegal businesses are easily closed by Code Enforcement if they open without a permit or if they are running a business other than what they are permitted for. Plus, requiring a business license would generate a lot of revenue for the county.

Most of you are aware of a proposal to allow additional $25,000 homestead exemption for properties valued at more than $100,000 on the 2018 ballot. Here is your solution if it passes: Create a business tax of $100 for every business in Manatee County; if they do not have $100 for a business license, they don’t have enough money to start a business.

I have never heard of any other Florida county not requiring a license to open a business. Don’t you want the county to know who is running the local businesses? I would love to know the reasoning behind this absurd practice. Don’t blame me when the county can’t figure out what they are going to do if this bill passes, because I just gave you the perfect solution. And don’t blame the police because you cannot imagine what goes into these types of investigations and the time and resources it takes to make a good case that a jury would actually convict.

This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 11:56 AM with the headline "County should require, charge for business licenses."