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Harrison to participate in inter-municipal business licence program

Construction companies and related businesses will be able to work across the Fraser Valley in 2020
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Construction for Harrison’s water system upgrade has begun on Pine Street. (Submitted)

Construction and contracting businesses in Harrison Hot Springs will soon be able to conduct business around the Fraser Valley, after council voted to bring Harrison into the Inter-Municipal Business Licence program for 2020.

The Inter-Municipal Business Licence program lets construction companies and related businesses buy one licence that allows them to work in a number of communities around the Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Delta, Hope, Kent, the two Langleys, Maple Ridge, Mission, Pitt Meadows and Surrey.

The inter-municipal licences costs an extra $250 a year; the business’ home community keeps 90 per cent of the funds, while the remaining 10 per cent is distributed to the other municipalities.

Right now, construction and trades companies in Harrison need to buy a business licence in Harrison, as well as any other communities they might work in.

The inter-municipal licence would remove that extra step for business owners.

RELATED: District to join regional business program

“It seems to provide a lot of convenience, thus creating higher compliance in those participating municipalities,” councillor Samantha Piper said.

The benefit of participating in the program, financial officer Tracey Jones said, is not only the increased compliance from businesses, but also the potential savings and increased options for residents.

“Sometimes our residents, they struggle to find services within this community, because if someone’s coming in for a small job and has to buy a licence here … they may not be as willing to do it,” she said.

Councillor Gerry Palmer added that contractors also often add the price of the business licence onto the contract quote, and having the inter-municipal licence could help decrease those costs.

Of the 118 businesses that have a resident business licence in Harrison, 10 may be eligible to participate in the Inter-Municipal Business Licence program. Of the 51 non-resident businesses, 27 may be eligible to participate.

Jones said she expects the program to bring in up to $8,900 for the village, which would offset any loss of income from businesses that no longer have to buy a separate business licence for Harrison.



grace.kennedy@ahobserver.com

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