Santa Monica : Fines Waived on Late Fees
The City Council approved a measure to accept late business license fees without imposing fines if the business owner provides a letter from the Postal Service accepting responsibility for the delay.
In a 5-2 vote Tuesday night, with Mayor Judy Abdo and Councilman Kelly Olsen voting no, the council decided to waive fines for late filings if the post office provides a letter accepting responsibility for late postmarks.
The council adopted the measure after Joanne Donavan, a local businesswoman, came before the council with a letter from the local postmaster that states the Santa Monica Post Office could have been responsible for the late postmark on her business license payment, because of “operational problems†such as a backlog. Because her $2,751 payment was postmarked after the Aug. 31 deadline, she faced a fine of about $550.
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