The deluge of municipal fees associated with dozens of necessary licenses and permits in Nassau County may provide a respite for small enterprises.
Last week, Democratic county legislator Seth Koslow, who is challenging County Executive Bruce Blakeman for his seat in November, introduced legislation that would reduce local company license rates by up to 85%.
“If you want to groom dogs, hang a sign, or fix locks in Nassau, you’re looking at hundreds of dollars in yearly fees — it reads less like a licensing schedule and more like a shakedown list,” Koslow explained.
“Small businesses are getting squeezed.”
The proposed law would reduce the rates for over 30 different business licensing categories, which currently range from $650 to $1,300 annually for Nassau business owners.
These categories include those related to dry cleaners, locksmiths, dog groomers, health clubs, and home-service providers.
That is more than three times what companies in nearby Suffolk County pay for the identical licenses, which often only cost $100 to $200 a year. Depending on the license, Nassau’s prices can be 225% to 550% more.
Koslow explained that his bill was mostly based on Suffolk’s concept.
“Why should a young entrepreneur in Nassau pay triple what someone pays across the county line,” Koslow stated. “That’s not competition, that’s punishment. These fees hit hardest for women, minority, and veteran-owned startups. This bill is how we level the playing field.”
The proposed legislation, according to David Adeoya, a financial adviser based in Nassau County who works with local small businesses, could make Nassau a more competitive place to do business while giving entrepreneurs who are struggling to survive in a challenging economy much-needed breathing room.
“Many small businesses are facing rising costs and higher import prices, so lowering these fees can offer meaningful relief,” Adeoya stated.
“Lower licensing fees mean business owners have more room in their budgets for necessities like inventory, staffing and equipment while also having the potential flexibility to add more tax efficient assets — things that directly support their businesses growth and stability.”
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Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive, stated that he would support the proposal.
However, he added that because licensing fees generate so much revenue for Nassau, cutting them by over 80% may have a big effect on the county budget.
“I am happy to cut the fees, provided Democrats come up with matching cuts to spending,” Blakeman stated.
