Document text
http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend January 3, 2007 Business license mandate irks some Out-of-town business owners unhappy with Medford's crackdown By Meg Landers Mail Tribune Some self-employed small-business owners are upset with a recent notice requiring them to purchase an annual $81 Medford business license — because their businesses aren't in Medford. Rob Werfel, a commercial/portrait photographer who works from his home in Ashland, received a notice from the Medford Finance Department that he must pay the $81 business license fee by Monday. The department learned of his conducting business in Medford after seeing one of his photos in a Chamber of Medford/Jackson County publication and looking up his Web site. Ignoring the notice could cost him up to $250 daily in citations. "The method that they are obtaining possible targets is unfair," he said. "The way this is is so hit-and-miss." City officials insist they're just enforcing the law. "There's a lot of misconceptions," said Alan Herson, assistant city attorney in Medford. He said anyone who conducts any business must buy a license — including an attorney visiting a Medford resident's home to sign a document, a freelance writer eating lunch in town with a client, a landscaper paying a consulting call or a woman selling Mary Kay to a Medford resident. Advertisement "It's a self-assessment tax with a little bit of enforcement," he said. Even lemonade stands qualify as a business, but the argument could be made they don't make a profit, he said. City staff say advertising counts, too. Ashland photographer Bryon DeVore received a notice last summer because of a kiosk he rented at the Rogue Valley Mall to hang photos. "I wasn't selling anything there," he said. "I actually fought it. I went to court. I lost." DeVore said he didn't buy a business license when he worked in Klamath Falls or San Francisco. "I know a ton of photographers in Medford that use Lithia Park (in Ashland)," he said. Freelance writer Linda Mounts, who works out of her home in Jacksonville, received notice two weeks ago that she must purchase a Medford license. "I'm very angry about it," she said. "If I lived in Medford I could understand that." Finance Director Alison Chan said there hasn't been any change to the city code, just a recently expanded investigation seeking violators. Chan said staff used to scan just yellow pages and classified ads, but recently has added various print media. Business licenses bring about $500,000 annually into city coffers. "It's a significant source of revenue," said Chan. She said staff asked Mounts if she came to Medford to conduct interviews, and she said she did. "I feel as the finance director I need to be equitable," Chan said. "If I have one person who has a business license and one person who doesn't, that's not equitable." Chan said the goal is not to issue citations but to bring people into compliance. The city of Jacksonville has the same requirement, though staff doesn't seek out violators, said Sandra Miller, assistant city planner. Ashland also has the same rule, with a little more enforcement than Jacksonville. "We have someone that checks out advertisements in the paper on a regular basis," said Lisa Morris, account clerk with the city of Ashland. Werfel said the Medford City Council should consider a lower fee for those who only do a small portion of their business in that city. But Herson said the fee isn't too high. "If your business can't afford $81 then you should do something else," he said. Werfel said the fee could discourage business in Medford. "I'm very likely to say, 'OK, I'm not going to do business in the city of Medford," said Werfel. "It certainly makes the town of Medford not very business-friendly." Meg Landers: 776-4481; [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com