Wednesday, July 24, 2013

BLS Fees to Increase for First Time in 20 Years

The state Business Licensing Service is proposing the first fee increase in more than 20 years. The public hearing for this proposal is next month (CR-102, Rule 10101.pdf).
 
· Application Fee: from $15 to $19.
· Renewal Fee: from $9 to $11.
 
This fee increase is permitted by approved legislation.

Why is BLS increasing fees?

BLS is self-funded. The fees charged for applications and renewals pay for BLS operations. The fee increase was authorized to fund long-needed improvements to the BLS system and supports the long-term sustainability of BLS.
 
BLS will replace its current system over the next four years. This will add enhancements and flexibility for partners to manage licenses, generate on-demand reports, and update requirements more quickly.

When was this increase announced?

During several workshops and forums this spring, our staff discussed the proposed increase with dozens of cities and partner agencies. We will continue to keep all partners updated about its progress, including the timeline for the BLS system replacement.

When will this take effect?

The public hearing for the rule change is August 6 in Olympia. We expect the fee increase to take effect in late 2013. We will update you here with the effective date when it is known.
 
Please direct any questions or concerns to us. Thank you for your partnership.

~BLS Partnership Services
 

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