I own a small business with some food service, which entails inspections of my food service facilities by the local health department. A fee for a Health Permit is charged by the local Health Department, I assume, to offset costs of inspections. Ten years ago the fee for the permit was $50.00. Several years ago the fee went up to $200.00 n just one years time. This year the fee went up to $290.00. When I talked to an inspector at the Health Department, he said the permit fee was raised due to I-695 and had been raised by the local health department board. My question: Is this increase in permit fees allowed under the I-695 provisions and if not, how can I resolve this matter with the Health Department.

-- JOHN HUSKE (jhuske@owt.com), January 17, 2001

Answers

I-695 was found to be unconstitutional. Therefore, I-695 cannot prevent any tax or fee increases.

-- Matthew M. Warren (mattinsky@msn.com), January 18, 2001.

Matt is legally correct. I-695 was found unconstitutional and does not prevent any tax or fee increases.

However, the health department inspector is essentially correct (but not legally). The fee increase is a result of the budget shortfall caused by the elimination of MVET by the legislature. The legislature did not have to eliminate the MVET, but did so anyway because of the large public support behind I-695.

-- Questioning (g_ma2000@hotmail.com), January 18, 2001.

See how the politicians of this state are trying to screw you, John? They do not give a damn about the spirit of 695. All they want is green, and could not care where it comes from. Better vote for 747 next november, or you will see your property tax skyrocket also.

-- Rolex Hoffmann (rolex@innw.net), January 18, 2001.

Aren't health inspections a pain?

Just think of how much the taxpayers could save if we eliminated that!!

-- Jim Cusick (jc.cusick@gte.net), January 20, 2001.

Jim Cusick writes in part:

"Aren't health inspections a pain?"

Yeah, they are, but what is the alternative? Hepatitis A, B, C. I'll take the inspections any time.

-- Curious George (---@---.---), January 21, 2001.

Curious-

I'm curious how you think you can get hepatitis B and C from food?

-- (zowie@hotmail.com), January 21, 2001.

How about E. Coli ? We could put Jack-in-the-Box in charge of the self-regulated fast food industry.

Heck, I should eat out less often anyway.

-- Jim Cusick (jc.cusick@gte.net), January 21, 2001.