By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – St. Louis aldermen may ask city residents to vote again on a plan to raise fees for business licenses.
Last month a slight majority of voters rejected a proposal that would have increased the graduated business license tax.
Alderman Steve Conway says the fees have not gone up since 1988. And to keep up with rising costs, the city needs the extra 4 (M) million dollars the rate hike would bring in.
"If we tell the people what it is about, and where we're going to use it, they'll be more receptive to it," Conway said. "There was no PR, no press. I think the people that were involved said 'well put it on the ballot and see if it passes."
For businesses with two or fewer employees, the fee would go from 150 to 200 dollars. The largest companies like Anheuser-Busch would have to pay an extra 12-thousand dollars.
The Board of Aldermen still needs to give its final approval before the proposal can go to voters in August.