Town Manager Dave Lynch said the Town of Pembroke Park is eliminating business tax receipts, a municipal licensing and fee mechanism officials said created administrative hassle and financial burden for many small businesses. "The small town that means big business," Lynch said, describing the town's decision and the commission's unanimous vote last week to eliminate BTRs.

Why it matters: Town officials said removing the receipts will reduce paperwork and penalties that they argued discouraged business activity in the town, which officials said is under 2 square miles and hosts hundreds of businesses. Mayor Jeff Jacobs said cutting the BTR requirement is "just cutting out a portion of that red tape to make it a little easier," and that long waits to get licenses can keep new businesses from making money while they pay rent and overhead.

Officials and business owners gave examples of the BTR program's impact. Lynch said the town collected about $400,000 a year from BTRs and that one business's BTR last year was roughly $13,000. He told reporters the town's general revenue base is approximately $21 million to $22 million annually and characterized the $400,000 as a small share of that total.

Kelsey Group manager Rick Chapels described the change as "a huge advantage to our tenants," saying many of the roughly 136 businesses he manages experienced BTR issues. Business owner David Arias, who identified himself as a long-time operator in town, said, "We've been in this town for almost 20 years. It's a breakdown for business," and noted penalties associated with BTRs, including penalties he described as 50 percent.

Officials framed the decision as part of a broader effort to recruit and retain businesses. Lynch said staff are working on programs using technology and artificial intelligence to reduce vacancy and attract new businesses. He also introduced staff who will support implementation, including Business Relations Manager Eli Augusto and Applicant Advocate Marisol Zayas, whose role he described as expediting activities businesses need to succeed.

What the town decided and next steps: According to Lynch, the Town Commission voted unanimously to eliminate business tax receipts. The transcript does not record a formal motion text on the record, mover or seconder, or an itemized roll-call tally at the press event; Lynch said the vote occurred "sometime last week." Town officials said operational costs of the BTR program had been close to the revenue generated and that eliminating the receipts is intended to reduce friction for small operators and encourage occupancy of commercial space.

Context and constraints: Speakers referenced a "state law" that authorized municipalities to collect business tax receipts but did not cite a specific statute at the press event. Officials did not provide an implementation timetable or detail whether the town will replace BTR revenue with another specific fee; they said they expect increased business activity to raise property values and other revenue over time.

Participants and local response: Several commissioners and town leaders attended the announcement. Commissioner Bill Hodgkins, former Mayor Sheryl Muhammad (identified in the meeting as a former mayor and commissioner), and Deputy Police Chief Jason Ochoa were present and were acknowledged by Lynch during remarks. Lynch and Chapels urged that removing BTRs will help small businesses such as nail salons and other micro-enterprises where a $200–$700 fee can be material to operations.

The town framed the policy change as one step in a continuing pro‑business agenda rather than a complete overhaul of local business regulation. Officials invited questions at the press conference and said additional proposals would be brought to the commission in the future.