By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

The city is implementing a new policy that will cost vendors money to do business within the city limits of Selma.

Council members voted Tuesday night to pass an ordinance that will require vendors to purchase a license and identification.

“We have been looking at ways to generate a revenue stream for the city,” said Corey Bowie, president of the Selma City Council. “A lot of people may think that this is a new tax, but in my opinion this is something that is owed to the city. If you look at other municipalities, they have vendor fees and taxes that you have to pay once you come within the city limits.”

Vendors will have to pay a total of $40 to set up shop in Selma. A vendor’s license will cost $25, while the identification will cost them $15. Bowie said the license and identification card are good for a three week time period.

“Any revenue stream that the city can collect on we should pursue it for the better services of the citizens,” Bowie said.

The fees will go into effect on Jan. 1, but vendors for city-sponsored events will be exempt from paying the fees until 2016. Vendors for events that are not sponsored by the city will have to pay fees in 2015.

“(The ordinance) will go into effect the first of the year,” Bowie said. “Due to the fact that the Jubilee and the Battle of Selma are sponsored by the city, vendors will not have to pay. If we have any other vendors that don’t fall into the guidelines of city-sponsored events, then they will have to start paying.”

Bowie said it was unfair to charge the vendors that plan to be at city-sponsored events in 2015 due to such short notice.

Money raised from vendor fees will go back into the general fund, Bowie said. A vendor license and identification can be purchased at the Selma Tax & License Department.