From: Small Business
To: City Hall
Re: Stop Pooping in our Lunch Pails

Small businesses, those who employ five or less, feel pinched by ever increasing costs and intense competition. One small business owner recently pointed out that non-business owners cannot begin to understand the effects recent rate hikes have on small business owners throughout our community. According to this particular business owner, utilities have torridly increased, liability insurance is out of control, and health insurance for employees has nearly pushed small business over the edge. And the situation facing business owners is only exacerbated by the city, which passed along the cost of mandated fire inspections to business owners. Simply: this is unacceptable.

Local politicians are adamant about their support of local small businesses. Yet, precious few seemingly care if those same small businesses continue to be hammered by costs that cut into profits – which translates into lesser abilities to pay higher wages, lesser abilities to provide health insurance benefits, lesser abilities to purchase other goods and services, and the list goes on. Would the average Duluth citizen continue to patronize local businesses if costs for goods and services went up an average of 20 to 30%?

It is no wonder, then, why small business owners harbor a slow burn over the fire inspection fees. In essence, the city’s decision to pass along its costs to the small business owner can be likened to a junior high student pooping in an elementary student’s lunch pail.

Yes, the city has experienced reduced income. Yes, the city has increased expenses. Yes, the city must provide the inspections and rightly so they assure public safety. But simply passing costs along to small businesses – the very backbone of our community – is tantamount to making a mess.

It is time that the business community makes its case: the city must do whatever it takes to provide and protect local business – and that includes eliminating the fire inspection fee. If the fee is not eliminated, the flies will begin to buzz.