Article Contributed on: 7/2/2009 12:11:36 PM
Restaurant licensing costs go up by a third
Local restaurant owners and other retail food vendors will pay 60 percent more for their annual licensing fees as of July 1, according to a June 26 Jefferson County press release.
Dr. Jim Dale, director of environmental health services at Jefferson County, said that the increase in fees will help cover the county's public health food safety program expenses, which are currently not being met.
"The program has been so under funded," said Dale. "Previously, only 30 to 40 percent of our costs have been covered. This (increase) won't pay for all the fees, but they will support it."
Currently, licensing fees for restaurants are calculated by square footage and seating capacity, making fees location-specific, according to Dale. For example, Dale says that a medium size restaurant paying $150 will now pay upward of $260.
"(The fees) have gone up by a third," said Dale.
Nancy Braden, public health communications coordinator for Jeffco, said that this increase will allow the department to conduct more health inspections at the 1,900 restaurants that currently operate in the county.
"This is really necessary," she said. "The restaurant fees haven't gone up in 10 years."
Mark Kalix, manager and executive chef at Wystone's World Tea in Lakewood, was surprised to learn that licensing fees have gone up, but Kalix said that although he is disappointed by it, he will pay without complaint.
"The inspectors do a great job," he said. "They educate the food handlers. It's a shame the fees have to go up, but if that's what they've got to do to protect customers, it's a small price to pay."
Kalix adds that the licensing fee for a restaurant is relatively inexpensive in comparison to the cost of a liquor license, which, in the state of Colorado, can estimate to $750 for a bar or pub.
"It's a small percentage," he said, adding that he believes the county is in a recession, too.
Tom Kinney, owner of Magill's Ice Cream in Lakewood, who also was unaware of the increase, referred to the increase as "unfortunate," and added that it is only a matter of time before the pinch gets forwarded to restaurant patrons.
"I'm not a fan of 'costing more money,'" he said. "Eventually it gets passed on to the customer ... the world is getting more expensive."
Kinney, 26, added that he believes in the system, but he doesn't have to enjoy signing the check.
"I'll pay it," he said. "I won't have a smile on my face but I'll pay it. They've got to get money from somewhere."
According to Dale, the recent increase in fees will allow the county to consider hiring new health inspectors, otherwise referred to as environmental health specialists.
"We may be able to unfreeze positions," he said.
State law requires that restaurants be randomly inspected two to three times a year; two times for fast food chains, and three times at full-service restaurants where food is made from scratch.
By inspectors personally talking with food management, the percentage of food borne illnesses decrease, said Dale.
To learn more about the Jefferson County Environmental Health Services department, or to learn more about the increase in fees, call 303-271-5700 or go to www.co.jefferson.co.us/health.