The Kosciusko Board of Aldermen will vote on possibly increasing the fees for food trucks operating inside the city limits.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, the board proposed amending the current food truck ordinance to increase the yearly fee from $250 to $550 for food trucks based in Attala County and $750 for trucks that are based outside of the county.
The state’s standard fee for a transient vendor, which is what food trucks fall under, is $550/year.
There are currently 12 food trucks operating in Kosciusko.
Mayor Tim Kyle said there have been a number of complaints from business and restaurant owners in the city concerning the food trucks being allowed to operate at much cheaper costs than a standard brick & mortar establishment due to not having to pay things such as property taxes.
“I understand the concern of our local businesses and one thing I want people to know we’re not trying to do away with food trucks,” said Kyle. “We’re just trying to make it a little bit more even playing field.”
Another concern about the low food truck fee was that traditional restaurants may chose to close and flip their business to a food truck because of the cheaper costs.
“…..the last thing you want for your community is to be nothing but food trucks, so we we’ve got to have a balance there and that’s what this, a compromise. Hopefully this will help to some degree.”
Aldermen will vote on the proposed fees during the city’s July 2 board meeting.
Audio: Kyle discuses the city’s food truck ordinance during Minute with the Mayor
Lane
June 20, 2024 at 9:37 AMI can understand the frustration of the brick and mortar restaurant owners in town concerning this. Also I can understand the frustration of the owner of the exercise gym on Wells street in town that’s not taxpayer funded. The Holmes Health club property was bought and upgraded with taxpayer dollars. That’s unfair commerce and competition to a private business owner since they’re not funded by any taxpayer dollars.
Becky Rasberry
June 20, 2024 at 11:09 AMBig mistake!! Those fees are ridiculous! If you’re going to raise the prices, don’t double or triple them. In today’s economy that’s too high. With the escalated costs of gas and food prices, plus you hiking up the yearly fee, how can they stay in business or why would they want to come to Kosciusko, when they can go somewhere else that supports small business owners, food truck operators, etc? Please reconsider the yearly fee increase. We want them to stay and you’re purposely driving them away.
Becky
June 21, 2024 at 12:22 PMIf people wanted the restaurant they would eat there. Just saying…..
Sherrall Spears
June 22, 2024 at 3:30 AMI 100 % agree. Well said !
Catherine
June 24, 2024 at 8:10 AMThat is the cost of doing business and any business owner should understand that. I understand the principle of raising the fee but it should not be raised that much. It will run the food trucks out of town.
Pat
June 24, 2024 at 5:30 PMI want to first thank you for your kind words about this issue. Second it is not only that it is financed through tax payers dollars but they offer free memberships to all students and staff of Holmes. Free makes it very hard to compete in a free market system.