Council gives first reading to ordinance aligning business-license classifications with state categories

Council gave first reading to Ordinance 105-2025, which updates the county's business-license classification schedule to match the state's standardized class list and the municipal matching effort. Staff said the ordinance only updates the classification codes and maintains local rate-setting authority.

Barry explained the state now promulgates the list of business categories and that counties must adopt the updated classifications every odd-numbered year. "This puts a consistent rate schedule in every jurisdiction," staff said, adding that governments still set their own rate levels. Council approved the first reading without recorded opposition; staff noted a second reading would occur in November and a third reading in December to meet the state-required adoption timeline.