Three Valley Grande business owners aren’t happy with the city’s new business ordinance.

Karl Jones, Robbie Rose and Sara Day all voiced their displeasure at the Valley Grande Council meeting on Monday night.

The city council unanimously passed the code at a council meeting in July and it officially becomes effective on Jan. 1.

The business license fee increases from $87 to $112.

“It’s based on the total gross receipt of business you do in Valley Grande, it’s no longer a flat rate,” Valley Grande City Clerk Janet Frasier said.

The business license is renewed each year on or before Jan. 31. All licenses not paid within 30 days from the due date will be increased by 15 percent for the first 30 days they will be declared delinquent and charged another 15 percent for a delinquency of 60 or more days.

Jones, who owns Selma Funeral homes, said it was all about the timing of informing city residents.

“There was no advance warning, we were being surprised,” Jones said. “The council needs to look at it. I think we have a valid point.”

“We apologize for the short notice, but we’re trying to better our city,” Frasier said. “Valley Grande has no property tax.”

Valley Grande Mayor Matt Dobbs said the new business procedures aren’t out of the ordinary statewide.

“It’s a state recommended schedule,” Dobbs said. “We didn’t do this randomly. We’re catching up with the rest of the state.”

“We didn’t do this to make people mad,” Valley Grande Councilwoman Tammy Troha said. “Changes happen every day. We have to change as a city.”

Valley Grande’s business license revenue will almost double from the tax increase, producing $75,000 next year. Last year’s revenue was nearly $40,000.

Dobbs said the funding goes toward public safety, which includes the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and Dallas County for fixing the roads. Valley Grande devoted $284,750.00 of its $791,370 budget to public safety.

“We doubled up on public safety,” Dobbs said. “We don’t have our own police force, we can’t afford it. We have to figure out how to generate revenue. Public safety is our number one priority.”