Business license tax exemptions for artists

I raised some questions last night at council as to why we would waive business licenses for artists while so many small businesses are struggling in the city.

• The home business license is $198 a year.
• We don't have a definition of "artist."
• We don't know how many home businesses or artist businesses this waiver would cover.
• We still would need businesses to register with the city so that we don't have a proliferation of businesses operating without licenses.

I have a home business license because I am a writer and when I sell my books I have to be licensed as a business and I have to pay sales tax. The 5th Council district has a large number of home based businesses --because quite frankly it is the small business that is creating employment right now.

The arts are important to a community. But so is business and I don't want the city encouraging one type of business over another. Either give all small businesses a break on business licenses for a year or don't single out one type of business.