The Town of Sidney is waiving business licence fees to more than 900 businesses in 2021 as a show of support during the pandemic.
Council unanimously approved a motion that will see the loss of nearly $85,000 in revenue in the coming year.
A staff report said the losses from business licences as well as administration costs involved in waiving the fees will be offset from funding through the province鈥檚 Safe Restart Plan, and will not have an impact on property taxes.
鈥淚t sends a message to the business community that we understand the difficulties and recognize they are an important part of our community,鈥� said Coun. Terri O鈥橩eeffe. 鈥淚t says something good about Sidney 鈥� we鈥檙e business friendly and we appreciate and acknowledge the important role business has.鈥�
Added Coun. Scott Garnett: 鈥淓very little bit helps.鈥�
Business annual licence fees range from $50 for a home-based business to $200 for larger commercial and industrial enterprises. Fees will also be waived for businesses based in Sidney but also operate elsewhere in the region or Island, which are $170.
Three-month $25 licences are also waived.
Any businesses that have already paid 2021 business licence fees will be sent a refund, said Alison Verhagen, senior manager of current planning in Sidney.
Sidney is the only jurisdiction in the capital region waiving business licence fees.
The City of Victoria said waiving the fee is not under consideration as part of its draft financial plan for 2021.
With considerably more businesses, Victoria is projected to collect $1.155 million from the fees next year.
In Saanich, businesses without a valid licence could be fined up to $200 per day.
Sidney鈥檚 staff report said while waiving fees could be considered as making a relatively small difference to individual businesses, 鈥渋t would make a significant statement to the business community by showing support during the ongoing pandemic despite what individual business experiences have been.鈥�