Digital News Report – The city of Watsonville has added a new tobacco retailer license fee of $255 to local businesses.
At the last City Council meeting the new ordinance was discussed establishing an annual fee to regulated and enforce the law prohibiting the sale of tobacco and tobacco-related products to minors.
While only one citizen stood up in opposition to the fee, several stood up to support it. Gary Richard Arnold said the fee would be an extra burden on businesses and the resolution should not be passed.
Mayor Luis A. Alejo brought the measure to a vote and it was passed unanimously. Retailers that sell cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products within the city of Watsonville will now shell-out a yearly fee of $225 to pay for law enforcement.
By Tim Edwards
Local Reporter