BATH -- If you going to do business in Burnettown you're going to need a license.

A Town Forum Thursday evening at LBC Middle School dispelled a number of rumors, as city council members did their best to clarify the confusion, address issues and answer questions regarding the business license ordinance which is set to go into effect, July 1.

 "We're trying to set aside some rumors about the business license fees,"  said Robert Workman councilman. "The business license ordinance has nothing to do with property taxes."

The city council voted to enact the license fees, which may have far reaching ramifications, creating concern among some town residents.

Many retirees who are living on fixed incomes are also worried about how the business license fees and how they may impact their lives.

A number of residents were unwavering in their belief that with the passing of the business license fee, the likelihood of a property tax may not be far behind.

The town has had the power since incorporating in 1941 to impose a business license requirement, but hasn't decided to do so until this past December. The only councilman to vote against the measure was Kenneth Ferguson.

                It was also brought out during the forum that councilman Wayne New said during the March 28 meeting that the council doesn't want to pass property taxes, but may have to in the future, and that the measure was already on the books, but the council hasn't enforced it.

"They're enforcing the business license fee, it's been on the books since 9411, and now they've decided to enforce it," said C.H. Williams of Burnettown. "The property tax can be enforced at anytime. We have asked the council for the right to vote, and to do what is right for our town.  I think we deserve that right to vote. I think the residents of Burnettown should have the right to vote on whether or not we should have a business license."

The ordinance for a property tax could be amended by the council at any time, but during the forum, the city council said that they would not vote to do so, and that if it were to ever be brought before council, a referendum  would be put on the November ballot, in which more than 75 percent of the municipality's resident would have to approve such a measure before a change in the city's policy regarding an ad valorem tax would go into effect.

"The council has the ability to supersede and change the ordinance at any  time," said Mayor Wayne Benson. "I disagree with the idea that the business license fee should go to the ballot. Sometimes you have to make decisions."

A number of people thought that the business license may deter businesses from coming into the municipality because the fee may be to excessive, and  that existing businesses may decide to go elsewhere because they are being penalized.

"I asked the city council for a meeting previously, and I was turned down," said Mel Minitor, Phoenix Computers, and a member of the Horse Creek  Merchants Association. "We have petitions to repeal the
business license fee requirements, and force the council to bring the ordinance to a vote.  The bottom line is that the business license fees will cost the residents money."

 In addition to the business license petition, there's been one drawn up addressing the issue, of returning the municipality border limits to those of January 1, 1988, prior to the city's annexation of additional land.

"A lot of promises have been made in the past about the land that was annexed into the city," said Robert Gay, Burnettown.  "The annexation should be rescinded and the city limits should go back to the way they were. I think  the residents of Burnettown should have the right to vote on any proposed property tax."

In a show of hands at the town forum, only two people raised their hands in support of the business license fee, while more than 30 raised their hands against the exercising the policy, although there were only about ten people raising their hands when asked how many people actually had businesses in Burnettown.

There will be eight different types of business licenses issued.

There were questions as to what the money was going to be used for, and the immediate need the council believes is to add another police officer to the Burnettown police department.

We've only passed the business license ordinance, there's been no discussion of property tax," said Benson. The money from the business licenses will go into the general fund, and will be used for a number of areas, including the police department, parks and recreation, and will be used as matching funds to obtain grants, which will be used for a number of programs to help beautify the city, so we can attract more businesses, while improving the quality of life for our residents."