A couple comments from these documents: All of these fees were last changed in 2008 and 2009, 16 years ago, and are for inspection of animal facilities, registration of commercial animal truckers etc. One example is the annual commercial livestock trucker fee is proposed to increase from $60/yr to $370/yr. The reason cited for the increase is to cover the costs of operating the inspection programs which have been operating at a loss for years (and therefore subsidized by general tax revenue). I pay a retail meat sale license and am happy to do it as I believe it helps maintain cleanliness and health standards and consumer confidence in my product. This brings back memories from many years ago of being appalled at the conditions in what appeared to be a decent restaurant in a certain southern state noted for lack of regulations. My wife and I took the base chaplain out for supper and we all came down with food poisoning. The rest rooms in this recommended restaurant were awful, etc etc. Obviously there was no inspection here. I recall being very glad to get back to Wisconsin. If these fee increases, the first in 16 years, to cover the costs of inspection and adherence to health regulations, get you bent out of shape you can find a state where they are more laissez-faire. I think some things are worth paying for. |