Ace on Facebook: LFUCG's new Annual Minimum License Fee. Discuss.

Lexington's small business owners got a surprise Thanksgiving gift from LFUCG earlier this week: a new annual minimum license fee.

The notice-slash-invoice reads: "Chapter 13 of the Code of Ordinance has been revised to provide for an occupational license and an annual minimum license fee." The explanation of the fee reads, in part: "Every business entity must pay $100, even if there is no physical location in the urban county."

This is what Ace's Facebook Page is chatting about today.

Andrew writes: "It just seems unnecessary. I'm a software engineer who does consulting work. I'm going back to school to hopefully get a Masters or PhD. I don't really want to shut my business down, just in case someone (read: old clients/friends) need a bit of work done — simple stuff that is worth a bit more than a couple of beers, but not much more than that. So now, I get to shell out another hundred dollars — due at Christmas time no less — for basically just existing. It's not like I'm using any city services or anything like that. Then, on the other hand, the city gives large companies tax breaks so that they will move in. I guess it's just the cost of not doing business..."

If you'd like to share your perspective on the Annual Minimum License Fee, for Page 5 of next week's Ace, please email us more about what you do and how the fee will impact your business at editor@aceweekly.com.