The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee gave a favorable report to CB 88-2025 on a 5-0 vote, advancing an ordinance that would discount certain county fees and charges by 50% for qualifying locally owned and operated businesses.

The bill, described by committee staff as an amendment to Prince George’s County code provisions on fees and charges, would add a section declaring that “fees and charges pursuant to this section assessed to a locally owned and operated business . . . shall be discounted by 50% at the time of such assessment,” a county policy analyst read aloud during the meeting.

The measure, presented to the committee on Sept. 30 and reviewed by the Office of Law, is intended to “stimulate the growth of locally owned and operated businesses by reducing the stifling burden of fees and charges” and to increase the number of businesses headquartered in Prince George’s County, committee staff said.

Budget and policy staff cautioned that enactment would reduce county fee-based revenue from business licensing, permitting, inspections and zoning applications and could require additional expenditures to verify and monitor program compliance. “The enactment of CB 88 will have an adverse fiscal impact on the county as county fee based revenue resources . . . will be reduced based on the number of locally owned and operated businesses,” the fiscal analyst said.

Office of Law staff said they had reviewed the bill and found it legally sufficient. “We’ve had the opportunity to review CB 88; we find it to be legally sufficient,” the law representative told the committee.

Sonia Owens, the county executive liaison, told the committee, “The county executive is in favor of this legislation.”

The committee voted 5-0 to move the bill forward. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Chair Watson, Vice Chair Blige, Council member Burrows, Council member Oriada and Council member Donoga.

If enacted as written, the ordinance would alter how fee revenue is collected and would require an administrative process to verify eligibility and apply discounts; the fiscal office warned the county would forgo fee revenue proportionate to participating businesses. The committee did not impose additional amendments at the meeting, and the bill will proceed per the council’s rules.