Thomas-Henry questions DOT on fee collection and refund concerns for Intro 918
Thomas-Henry probes DOT's concern about collecting fees after licensing. Craven explains the fee is paid at the end of the approval process, so refunds are not an issue, but DOT worries businesses may be less motivated to pay on time once already operating, requiring staff to chase payments.
Okay, and as mentioned, this is just one of the fees that businesses have to pay when they're doing an outdoor dining?
This is the only annual fee that they have to pay.
There are several fees when you're setting up the program, when you first apply, and then from year to year, there is one annual fee.
Okay, so, and it was mentioned that if...
Application is not, does not go through, just correct me if I'm wrong, does not go through, then the owner basically does not receive any of that couple of hundred to $2,500 back.
Is that correct?
That is not correct, actually.
This fee is what you pay
It's sort of the final fee before you get your license, and then it's the annual one.
So if it doesn't go through, you do not pay this fee.
So what was the concern around if the entity doesn't get the license, you guys will never see the fee?
What's that concern?
The concern is actually we have found various programs.
that once someone has the authority to operate, and so you would pay the first fee, you would get your license.
Sometimes it is difficult.
We find that sometimes people are less interested in paying once they're kind of already out there, they have their license, they're like ready to go.
And then people don't always pay on time or they might be late and then we have to chase after people to get them to pay.
So as the structure is now, you pay the fee before you get your license?
Yeah.
Up front?
It's the last thing before you get your license, when you sign your revocable consent agreement.
But if you do pay the fee and don't get your license, you get that back?
You would, yeah, but that wouldn't happen.
What do you mean that wouldn't happen?
You've gone through the entire review process, the review and approval process, before you would pay this fee.
So, like, if you're paying this fee, we're good to go.