No licenses for 1,500 businesses costing Augusta $200K

AUGUSTA - More than 1,500 businesses and industries in Augusta were operating without a valid 2002 license, costing the city nearly $200,000, officials said. <br> <br> Businesses that had not bought licenses by May 20 - three months and three weeks after the due date of Jan. 31 - runs the gamut from AAA-1 Transmission Service to Procter & Gamble Co., The Augusta Chronicle reported Sunday. <br> <br> According to records at the Augusta License and Inspections Department, 1,523 businesses were operating without a license. <br> <br> The list includes 50 restaurants; 39 beauty parlors and barber shops; 90 insurance companies and agents; dozens of bars, liquor stores and game rooms; wireless communications companies; and doctors, lawyers, investment firms, financial counselors and construction companies. <br> <br> The license cost is based on the company&#39;s gross revenue, said License Manager Stewart Walker. Payment on licenses is due Jan. 1, but businesses have until Jan. 31 to pay without a 10 percent penalty and 1 1/2 percent per month interest fee. <br> <br> Augusta billed almost $2 million this year in licenses. As of May 20, $198,633 was still due, according to the city&#39;s records. <br> <br> Many of the businesses contacted by reporters at the Augusta newspaper said they didn&#39;t know they lacked a valid license. <br> <br> ``I thought I had already bought it,&#39;&#39; said Cedric J. Hemmingway, the owner of CED&#39;s Mobile Auto. <br> <br> Some businesses operating without a valid license continue to do business with the Augusta. <br> <br> The city paid Virgo Gambill Architects $90,050; Lesco Inc. received $9,963 for yard maintenance and equipment; and J&#39;s Produce was paid $1,454 for food for the county jail and Richmond County Correctional Institute. <br> <br> Jerry Morris, the owner of J&#39;s Produce on Fifth Street, said he bought his license the day before the Augusta newspaper called him. The license department said they had sent a second notice to Morris in May. <br> <br> ``I forgot about it and they don&#39;t send you a reminder,&#39;&#39; Morris said. ``I looked on the wall at my license and saw it was out of date.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Other business owners say they didn&#39;t remember getting a bill, while some said obtaining the license had slipped their minds. <br> <br> ``I guess we just let it lapse or something,&#39;&#39; said Steve Virgo, of Virgo Gambill Architects.