Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Small Business Relief topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board backs waiver of business-registration and license fees for businesses closed by COVID health orders
Summary
The Board approved an ordinance to waive business registration and certain license fees for qualifying small businesses affected by COVID-19, applying to restaurants and businesses ordered closed by health orders. The threshold for eligibility was set at $25 million in gross receipts; board members debated cost estimates and fairness.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Feb. 23 voted unanimously on first reading to waive business registration and certain license fees for qualifying small businesses that were prevented from operating by local COVID-19 health orders.
The ordinance, carried by Supervisor Stephanie, would waive registration and annual license fees and related penalties for two categories: restaurants and businesses that were ordered to shut down by a health order (including salons, barbers, massage therapists, gyms and entertainment venues). Sponsors said the measure is intended to deliver fairness to businesses "charged for a right they were prevented from exercising," as Supervisor Stephanie put it.
Cost and threshold: The board cited an estimated one-time general-fund impact of roughly $13 million to $15 million, based on the budget and legislative analyst—s work. The ordinance sets eligibility at businesses with $25,000,000 or less in gross receipts. Supervisor Connie Chan asked how the $25 million threshold was selected; Supervisor Stephanie said the level was chosen with city attorney input based on businesses that had sought relief and to exclude larger formula-retail operations.
Statements on record: Supervisor Safaie, a co-sponsor, described walking commercial corridors and hearing that savings of "a thousand, 15 hundred, 2 thousand, 4 thousand" dollars would make a real difference for small proprietors. Supervisor Chan said she supported the bill but wanted clarification on the $25 million threshold and the underlying revenue estimates.
Vote and next steps: The ordinance passed on first reading unanimously and will return for final passage under the city—s legislative schedule. Staff and the budget-and-legislative-analyst office will complete fiscal paperwork; the Treasurer & Tax Collector and relevant departments will publish waiver guidance and the clerk will place the ordinance on a subsequent calendar for second reading.
Ending: Sponsors said the waiver is intended as direct, equitable relief for businesses that could not operate during public-health closures and that the city will follow up with implementation guidance.
